by .jpg)
International Desk
April 27, 2025, 22:34
A catastrophic explosion at Iran’s largest commercial port, Shahid Rajaee, near the southern city of Bandar Abbas, has claimed at least 40 lives, with over 1,000 people injured, according to state media reports. The blast, which occurred on Saturday, April 26, 2025, has caused widespread devastation, prompting a state of emergency and a government-led investigation.
Mohammad Ashouri, a Hormozgan provincial official, confirmed the updated death toll in an interview with Iran’s state television on Sunday. The explosion, centered in the port’s wharf area, is believed to have been triggered by improperly stored chemicals, possibly including sodium perchlorate, a component used in missile fuel. The blast’s intensity shattered windows and damaged buildings within a several-kilometer radius, with its sound heard as far as Qeshm Island, 26 kilometers away.
Videos of the incident show a massive fireball and thick black smoke billowing from the port, with people fleeing the scene and others lying injured amidst debris. Nearby buildings had their windows blown out, roofs collapsed, and cars were destroyed. Six individuals remain unaccounted for, state media reported.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian expressed deep condolences to the victims’ families and ordered a thorough investigation into the cause of the explosion. The country’s Interior Minister, Eskandar Momeni, has been dispatched to Bandar Abbas to oversee the response and firefighting efforts, which continue to battle the blaze amidst challenges posed by high winds. A state of emergency has been declared in Hormozgan province, with schools and offices closed due to toxic air pollution from the fire. Citizens have been urged to stay indoors and avoid outdoor activities.
The Shahid Rajaee port, located near the strategic Strait of Hormuz, handles approximately 80 million tons of cargo annually, making it a critical hub for Iran’s maritime trade. The National Iranian Oil Refining and Distribution Company clarified that the explosion did not affect its oil facilities, refineries, or pipelines in the area.
Initial reports suggest that negligence in handling flammable materials, compounded by prior warnings about unsafe chemical storage, may have contributed to the disaster. Hossein Zafari, a spokesperson for Iran’s crisis management organization, noted that the port had been cautioned about the risks of improperly stored chemicals. However, the exact cause remains under investigation, with some sources linking the blast to a shipment of missile fuel chemicals delivered from China in March 2025. Iran’s Defense Ministry has denied reports that military cargo was involved.
The explosion coincided with a third round of nuclear talks between Iran and the United States in Oman, though no link has been established between the two events. The Israeli military has also denied involvement, despite past tensions, including a 2020 cyberattack on the same port attributed to Israel.
As rescue operations continue, the incident has drawn comparisons to the 2020 Beirut port explosion due to its scale and the suspected involvement of hazardous chemicals. Iran has declared three days of public mourning in Hormozgan province, with the nation reeling from one of its deadliest industrial accidents in recent years.
AI/MR
