Bandar Abbas Port
A massive explosion struck Iran’s Shahid Rajaee port in the southern city of Bandar Abbas on Saturday, injuring at least 406 people, according to local officials and media reports.
The blast erupted in the port’s container yard, sending shockwaves across nearby towns, shaking buildings, and causing the collapse of at least one structure near the site.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos as thick black smoke billowed into the sky, visible from miles away. Footage broadcast by state television, Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting News (IRIBNEWS), captured the dramatic aftermath, showing the port engulfed in smoke and emergency teams rushing to the scene.
Mehrdad Hassanzadeh, head of Hormozgan province’s crisis management agency, stated that the explosion was triggered by the detonation of several stored containers in the yard.
He emphasized that emergency and rapid response teams were quickly deployed to evacuate the wounded and transport them to hospitals across the province. Despite the intensity of the blast, officials confirmed that no fatalities had been reported as of yet.
Authorities moved swiftly to rule out an ammonia tank as the source of the explosion. “The blast was linked to a container, but it remains unclear what the container held,” state television reported. An investigation has been launched, with officials promising to disclose the findings once they become available.
The Shahid Rajaee port, located along the strategically critical Strait of Hormuz, is Iran’s largest and most advanced commercial shipping hub, handling a significant portion of the country’s imports and exports.
The port has previously been the target of cyberattacks and operational disruptions, though so far, authorities have not indicated any suspicion of foul play related to Saturday’s incident.
Security forces have cordoned off the area to facilitate ongoing investigations, while emergency crews continue to assess the damage and ensure the safety of the site.
