Shahid Rajaee Port (Iran), 27 April (H.S.): At least 14 people were killed and over 700 injured in a significant explosion at Iran’s largest port, Shahid Rajaee in Bandar Abbas, reportedly triggered by the detonation of chemical materials stored in containers.

Iranian state media indicated that the blast coincided with ongoing nuclear talks between Iran and the U.S. in Oman, but no connection was established. Hossein Zafari, spokesperson for Iran’s crisis management organization, attributed the explosion to improper storage of chemicals and noted previous warnings regarding safety risks at the port.

Shahid Rajaee, situated near the crucial Strait of Hormoz, serves as Iran’s primary container hub. After the explosion, which sent a massive black and orange cloud of smoke into the sky, an Iranian government official acknowledged that while the chemicals were likely involved, the exact cause remained undetermined.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshian ordered an investigation, dispatching his interior minister to the scene, where efforts were underway to control the fire and prevent it from spreading. Eyewitness accounts reported shattered windows several kilometers away, and the explosion’s sound was heard as far as Qeshm Island, 26 kilometers south of the port.

Activities at the port were suspended, and relief workers focused on extinguishing the fires. Customs officials noted that the container yard likely contained hazardous materials, with poor handling practices cited as a contributing factor to the disaster.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar