Tehran, April 26: At least 500 became critical after a massive explosion followed by a fierce fire shook the Shahid Rajaee port near Bandar Abbas in southern Iran on Saturday.
The blast that wreaked panic across the key strategic port city, came up with plumes of thick black smoke resulting a violent fire on spot.
The explosion occurred at Shahid Rajaee port, the most advanced container terminal in Iran, located roughly 1,000 kilometers south of the capital Tehran and about 23 kilometers west of Bandar Abbas, the provincial capital of Hormozgan.
The port lies near the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway through which nearly 20% of global oil passes, raising regional concerns about possible disruptions.
Authorities confirmed that several cargo containers exploded on the dock, igniting a significant fire.
“The explosion occurred in a part of the Shahid Rajaee port dock, and we are actively working to extinguish the fire,” emergency responders reported.
Head of Hormozgan’s crisis management authority, Mehrdad Hassanzadeh, confirmed the source of the blast, stating it was due to the explosion of multiple containers.
The cause behind the container detonation is still under investigation, he added.
Mokhtar Salahshour, Head of the Hormozgan Red Crescent Society, confirmed that four rapid response teams were immediately dispatched to the port.
Rescue and firefighting efforts are ongoing as authorities work to fully control the situation, he added.
Investigation is underway amid regional tensions, as the precise cause behind the explosion is yet under study.
