A large explosion rocked Iran’s biggest commercial port on Saturday, resulting in the deaths of at least 25 individuals and injuring nearly 800 more, according to state media reports.
The incident took place at Shahid Rajaei Port, located in Bandar Abbas city in southern Iran, near the Strait of Hormuz, which sees about a fifth of the world’s oil flow.
The customs office at the port stated, via state television, that the explosion likely stemmed from a fire at a storage facility for hazardous and chemical materials.
Images from the official news agency IRNA depicted rescuers and survivors navigating a broad street filled with debris following the Shahid Rajaei blast, which is situated over 1,000 km (620 miles) south of Tehran.
Flames consumed a truck trailer, and blood marked the side of a mangled vehicle, while a helicopter sprayed water on the large plumes of black smoke rising from behind stacked shipping containers.
According to local emergency services, state TV mentioned that “hundreds have been taken to nearby hospitals,” and the provincial blood transfusion center had made a plea for donations.
This explosion occurred just months after one of Iran’s most severe workplace accidents in years; a coal mine explosion in September due to a gas leak resulted in over 50 fatalities in Tabas, located in the eastern part of the country.
The timing of Saturday’s explosion coincided with important discussions between Iran and the US in Oman regarding Tehran’s nuclear initiatives, where both parties reported making headway.
