Explosion in Iran: Five dead and more than 700 injured at the port of Bandar Abbas
A powerful explosion in the chemical area of the Shahid Rajaee port caused a massive fire, leaving at least five dead, hundreds injured, and extensive material damage in the southwestern Iranian port city.
A massive explosion occurred at the Shahid Rajaee section of the Bandar Abbas port, one of Iran's main logistics facilities, a country with which the United States is holding talks on a possible nuclear treaty. The incident left five dead and more than 700 injured. State media reported that the blast created a large column of gray smoke visible for miles, while emergency crews and helicopters struggled to control the resulting fire. State media reported that the blast created a large column of gray smoke visible for miles, while emergency crews and helicopters struggled to control the resulting fire.
The explosion caused severe damage to the port's infrastructure, with debris scattered across a wide area and windows shattered in nearby buildings. According to official reports, some people were trapped in the wreckage of collapsed structures. Maritime operations were suspended and the port closed while rescue efforts and damage assessments continued.
ALSO SEE: Latest NJ Fire Updates: Ocean County wildfire smoke reduces air quality across tri-state area
Chemicals, possible cause of the incident
Iranian authorities indicated that the explosion could have been caused by chemicals stored in a section of the port dedicated to handling hazardous substances. State broadcaster IRIB reported that the blast occurred specifically in the chemical and sulfur area of the Shahid Rajaee complex. A video published by the Mehr news agency showed the exact moment of the explosion, which apparently occurred in a port warehouse.
Government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani confirmed that the exact cause of the incident has not yet been determined, although initial investigations point to containers of chemical substances as the likely source. Meanwhile, emergency teams continue working to fully extinguish the fire, which is necessary before experts can make a precise assessment.
Government Response and the scale of the Port Complex
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian ordered an official investigation to clarify what happened. In a statement on the social media platform X, he reported that the Interior Minister had been dispatched to the region to oversee the response efforts and analyze the scale of the accident. Governor Mohammad Ashouri Taziani reported that the injured are being treated in medical centers in Bandar Abbas and confirmed that the fire is under control.
Shahid Rajaee Port is one of Iran's largest, with a surface area of 2,400 hectares and the capacity to handle 70 million tons of cargo annually. The facility has 35 berths and half a million square meters of warehouses, making it a strategic hub for the country's maritime trade. The explosion represents a severe blow to Iran's port infrastructure and could have repercussions for regional logistics.