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A significant explosion and subsequent fire occurred at a port in southern Iran on Saturday, resulting in at least four fatalities and over 500 injuries, according to reports from state television.
The incident took place at the Shahid Rajaei port, located near Bandar Abbas, a critical hub for container shipping in Iran, which manages approximately 72 million tonnes of cargo annually.
Footage shared on social media depicted thick, dark smoke rising from the blast site, with glass shattered in buildings located several kilometers away from the explosion’s epicenter.
Images broadcast by state media displayed injured individuals flooding into hospitals, as ambulances rushed to the scene, transporting victims on stretchers.
Despite the magnitude of the explosion, authorities had not provided any specific explanation for its cause hours later. Preliminary videos indicated that the substance ignited at the port was likely to be highly flammable.
Industrial accidents are not uncommon in Iran, particularly within its older oil facilities, which are hindered by international sanctions that limit access to necessary parts. However, Iranian state television explicitly dismissed any suggestion that energy infrastructure was implicated in this incident.
Mehrdad Hasanzadeh, an official with the provincial disaster management team, mentioned on state TV that first responders were addressing the situation, while others worked to evacuate the area. He indicated that the explosion originated from containers at the Shahid Rajaei port but did not provide further details. Reports also noted that a building collapse resulted from the blast, but specifics were not immediately available.
The Interior Ministry announced the initiation of an investigation into the incident.
Located about 1,050 kilometers southeast of Tehran, Shahid Rajaei port sits on the Strait of Hormuz, a critical corridor through which approximately 20 percent of the world’s oil is transported.
This incident follows a 2020 cyberattack on the port, which was allegedly linked to Israel. The attack followed an assertion by Israel that it had foiled a cyber offensive aimed at its water infrastructure, which it accused Iranian entities of orchestrating.
The explosion coincided with discussions between Iranian and U.S. representatives in Oman, focused on negotiations concerning Iran’s advancing nuclear program.
Source
www.cbc.ca