At least five people have died and more than 700 have been injured following a massive explosion at Iran’s Shahid Rajaee Port, state media has reported.
The blast, suspected to have originated from chemical materials, struck early Saturday near Bandar Abbas, Iran’s major southern port city. The explosion shattered windows, destroyed cars, and sent shockwaves up to 50km away.
Videos posted online show a fire escalating into a huge inferno before the devastating blast.
In the aftermath, wounded people were seen lying on roads covered in smoking debris.
Firefighters continued battling the blazes through Saturday afternoon, as thick black smoke towered over the port.
Helicopter crews and emergency services raced to rescue trapped workers under collapsed roofs.
Shahid Rajaee, Iran’s largest commercial port, sits along the strategic Strait of Hormuz — a crucial waterway for global oil shipments. Officials said much of the country’s trade passes through the damaged terminal.
Emergency crew rushed to attend to the injured
Witnesses told local media the explosion happened after a fire broke out and ignited unsealed containers likely filled with chemical substances.
Authorities confirmed multiple containers exploded at the wharf.
State television cited customs officials who linked the blast to a fire at a hazardous materials storage area.
Separate intelligence reports suggest the containers may have held solid fuel used in Iranian ballistic missiles.
Ambrey Intelligence, a maritime risk firm, reported that at least 12 merchant vessels were nearby when the explosion occurred, seven of which were berthed at the port.
Iran’s National Oil Production Company said the incident had no impact on nearby oil refineries, pipelines or fuel tanks, amid concerns about broader infrastructure damage.
President Masoud Pezeshkian expressed “deep regret and sympathy” for the victims. He ordered an immediate government investigation and dispatched the interior minister to oversee the response on the ground.
The explosion unfolded as Iranian and US officials met in Oman for fresh talks on Iran’s nuclear program.
Negotiations, ongoing for weeks, aim to curb Iran’s nuclear ambitions in exchange for sanctions relief.
Reported by M10News Reporter
