A massive explosion occurred at the Shahid Raji Port near the key Iranian city of Bandar Abbas, leaving 516 people injured. The explosion took place on Saturday (April 26) afternoon at Iran’s largest and most modern seaport.
Babak Yakteparest, spokesperson for Iran’s emergency services, confirmed the number of injured. Victims have been sent to various hospitals in the Hormozgan province.
Initially, there were speculations about possible sabotage. However, Hossein Jafari, spokesperson for Iran’s National Disaster Management Authority, stated that no evidence of sabotage was found. He said the explosion likely occurred due to chemical materials stored inside a container.
Jafari warned against believing rumors and urged everyone to rely on official information. He added that the rescue operations were being hampered by toxic smoke. No deaths have been confirmed yet, but the explosion was so powerful that it was felt up to 50 kilometers away.
According to Iran’s official news agency Fars News, the incident reportedly began from a small fire that quickly spread, leading to a massive explosion. Extremely hot weather and flammable materials in the area intensified the blast, according to eyewitnesses.
Local media reported that the exact contents of the exploded containers are still unclear, but the smell of sulfur was detected in the area. After the initial explosion, several more blasts followed. However, the situation is now under control, and rescue workers are continuing efforts to clear the debris and help the injured.
Iran’s official news agency IRNA reported that the port is located 23 kilometers east of Bandar Abbas and on the northern side of the Strait of Hormuz, through which about one-fifth of the world’s total oil production is transported.