Powerful Explosion at Iranian Port: At Least 25 Dead, Over 700 Injured

A powerful explosion rocked a port near the southern Iranian city of Bandar Abbas on Saturday, killing at least 25 people and injuring over 700. State media reported that firefighters are continuing efforts to extinguish the extensive blaze that followed the blast.

Mehrdad Hasanzadeh, the spokesperson for the Hormozgan province's crisis management organization, stated that the explosion at Shahid Rajaee port, the country's largest commercial port located a few dozen kilometers from Bandar Abbas, occurred at noon. He attributed the incident to the explosion of several containers holding chemicals. The port's customs office suggested that a fire that broke out in a warehouse containing hazardous goods and chemicals was the likely cause of the blast.

The force of the explosion shattered windows in Bandar Abbas and the surrounding area within a several-kilometer radius of the strategic Strait of Hormuz, tore apart metal containers, and severely damaged stored goods, according to Iranian state media. The National Disaster Management Organization reported that out of the 752 injured individuals who received medical attention, 190 were still hospitalized as of Sunday morning.

Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni, who was present at the scene, told state television that 80 percent of the fire had been brought under control by Sunday morning, and firefighting operations would continue for a few more hours. Some operations in parts of Shahid Rajaee port unaffected by the fire or damage had resumed.

While initial information pointed to chemical materials, the exact cause of the explosion remains unclear. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian expressed his condolences to the victims on social media and ordered an investigation into the causes of the blast. Government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani cautioned against premature speculation, emphasizing that it was too early to comment definitively on the reasons behind the explosion.

Strong winds have hampered efforts to extinguish the flames. The Fars news agency reported that the explosion was heard and felt as far as 50 kilometers away, with residents in distant areas also feeling the ground shake. The Tasnim news agency added that the shockwave caused severe damage to most port buildings. The National Iranian Oil Products Distribution Company (NIOPDC) confirmed to local media that the explosion was in no way related to refineries, fuel depots, or other oil infrastructure.

Shahid Rajaee, located over a thousand kilometers south of the capital Tehran and 23 kilometers west of Bandar Abbas, the capital of Hormozgan province, on the northern coast of the Strait of Hormuz through which a fifth of the world's oil production passes, is Iran's most modern container port. State media announced that all schools, universities, and government offices in Bandar Abbas would be closed on Sunday to allow authorities to focus on dealing with the disaster. A suffocating smoke hung over the area.

In recent years, Iran's energy and industrial infrastructure has been hit by several deadly incidents, many of which have been blamed on negligence. These include refinery fires and a gas explosion in a coal mine – for instance, a gas leak triggered a coal mine explosion in Tabas, eastern Iran, in September, killing over 50 people. Iran has blamed its main adversary Israel for some other incidents, with Israel having carried out attacks on Iranian soil in recent years targeting Iran's nuclear program and, among other things, bombing Iranian air defenses last year. The incident also comes as Iranian and U.S. delegations are holding high-level talks in Oman regarding Tehran's nuclear program, though no connection is seen between the two events.

Avaldatud 27/04/2025