Bandar Abass, April 26— A massive explosion and subsequent fire at Iran’s Shahid Rajaee port near Bandar Abbas on Saturday injured at least 561 people, according to state media reports.
The blast, which occurred around midday local time, originated from several containers in the port’s wharf area, possibly containing hazardous materials or chemicals.
Social media videos showed black billowing smoke after the blast. Others showed glass blown out of buildings kilometers away from the epicenter of the explosion. State media footage showed the injured crowding into at least one hospital, with ambulances arriving as medics rushed one person by on a stretcher.
Authorities have not yet determined the cause of the explosion, though preliminary assessments suggest negligence in handling flammable materials may have contributed to the incident. The National Iranian Petroleum Refining and Distribution Company stated that the explosion did not impact its infrastructure, including refineries, fuel tanks, distribution complexes, or oil pipelines.
Emergency services, including the Hormozgan Red Crescent Society, dispatched rapid response teams to the scene. Injured individuals were evacuated and transported to nearby medical facilities. Firefighting efforts were undertaken to control and extinguish the blaze. Port operations were suspended temporarily to facilitate emergency response activities.
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The incident coincided with ongoing U.S.-Iran nuclear negotiations in Oman, adding potential political implications to the event.
Shahid Rajaee port is Iran’s largest commercial port, handling approximately 80 million tons of goods annually. Located near the strategic Strait of Hormuz, it serves as a critical hub for the country’s maritime trade.
The port is situated approximately 23 kilometers west of Bandar Abbas and is adjacent to facilities operated by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
In 2020, the port was targeted in a suspected Israeli cyberattack, amid ongoing tensions between the two nations.
