On Saturday, a devastating explosion rocked Iran’s biggest commercial port, resulting in the deaths of at least 25 individuals and injuring approximately 800 others, as reported by state media. The catastrophic event took place at Shahid Rajaei Port in southern Iran’s Bandar Abbas city, which is situated close to the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route through which around one-fifth of global oil production passes. According to the port’s customs office, the explosion most likely stemmed from a fire at a depot storing hazardous and chemical materials.
The official news agency IRNA released images depicting rescuers and survivors traversing a debris-filled boulevard following the blast at Shahid Rajaei, which is located over 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) south of Tehran. The visuals showcased flames engulfing a truck trailer, a crushed car with bloodstains, and a helicopter discharging water onto massive black smoke clouds rising from stacked shipping containers.
State TV, citing local emergency services, reported that “hundreds have been transferred to nearby medical centers,” and the provincial blood transfusion center has appealed for donations. This explosion comes in the aftermath of one of Iran’s deadliest work-related accidents in recent years, a coal mine blast caused by a gas leak that occurred in September and claimed over 50 lives at Tabas in the eastern part of the country.
The devastating occurrence took place during high-level Iran-US talks in Oman, focusing on Tehran’s nuclear program, with both parties reporting progress in their discussions.
Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/gallery/2025/4/27/deadly-explosion-shakes-iran-hundreds-hospitalised-after-port-fire?traffic_source=rss
