A blast and subsequent fire at the strategically important Shahid Rajaee port has resulted in at least 14 fatalities and numerous injuries.
The explosion at Iran’s largest and most advanced port, a crucial hub in the Strait of Hormuz for oil and petrochemical exports, has caused the death toll to rise to at least 14, with hundreds injured, according to the interior minister.
The Shahid Rajaee facility in Bandar Abbas was struck by the explosion around 11:55 am on Saturday, leaving over 750 people injured. Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni reported that approximately 300 victims remained hospitalized as of Saturday evening, while the confirmed death toll had reached 14.
Firefighters continued to fight the blaze late into the night. Authorities secured the area and adjacent customs facilities to investigate, with suspicion falling on improper chemical storage as a potential cause.
“The explosion was triggered by the chemicals stored inside the containers,” stated Hossein Zafari, a spokesperson for Iran’s crisis management organization, to Iran’s ILNA news agency. “Previously, the director general of crisis management had cautioned this port during inspections about potential dangers.”
However, government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani told IRNA that the precise cause was still undetermined, cautioning against premature conclusions.
Conflicting reports about the incident emerged from Iranian media, with some suggesting the initial explosion occurred in an administrative building, while others pointed to a possible gas tanker explosion. Online video footage seemed to indicate the epicenter was located in the freight container storage area.
Further online footage depicted thick smoke rising above the port, as authorities evacuated nearby residential areas and temporarily halted port activities.
Addressing concerns about air quality, Iran’s health ministry announced a public health emergency in Bandar Abbas, warning of the potential spread of hazardous pollutants, including ammonia, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide. Residents were advised to remain indoors, avoid outdoor activities, and keep windows closed. Vulnerable individuals, such as those with respiratory or heart conditions, children, pregnant women, and the elderly, were encouraged to wear masks.
Numerous countries, including the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Japan, and Russia, have conveyed their condolences following the disaster. Saudi Arabia offered to provide any assistance requested by Iran, while the Russian embassy in Tehran stated it would promptly forward any Iranian request for aid to Moscow. Iraq’s foreign ministry also pledged support, with Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani instructing officials to coordinate aid efforts with Iranian authorities.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian expressed his condolences to the victims and mandated a comprehensive investigation. Iran’s Prosecutor General directed the provincial office to “address the potential perpetrators of the incident with the utmost severity.”
The Shahid Rajaee port is a strategically significant facility situated on the Strait of Hormuz, approximately 1,050 kilometers southeast of Tehran. The port was the target of a suspected Israeli cyberattack in 2020. Although Iranian officials have not accused any external actors of involvement in Saturday’s incident, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi cautioned earlier in the week that “our security services are on high alert given past instances of attempted sabotage.”
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