ALWAGHT- The blast at southern Iran’s Shahid Rajaei Port has claimed 25 lives and left around 800 wounded.
A catastrophic explosion at Iran’s Shahid Rajaei Port on Saturday killed 25 people, with many injured transported to cities like Shiraz for treatment. Thick smoke still rose from the port on Sunday as rescue teams worked overnight. Nearby schools in Bandar Abbas, 20 km away, were closed as a precaution.
Officials suspect the blast was caused by poorly stored chemicals in containers, according to crisis management spokesperson Hossein Zafari. Warnings about unsafe storage had reportedly been ignored. While chemicals are the likely cause, the exact reason remains unclear. The explosion did not damage nearby oil facilities, authorities confirmed.
President Masoud Pezeshkian ordered an investigation, sending the interior minister to oversee rescue efforts. Firefighting teams worked to contain the blaze and prevent it from spreading to other containers. The port, a key commercial and petrochemical hub, remains critical to Iran’s trade and energy infrastructure.
