A powerful explosion struck the Shahid Rajaee port in Iran’s southern city of Bandar Abbas on Saturday, leaving at least 250 people injured, local officials and media reported.
The blast, which erupted in the port’s container yard, was strong enough to be heard in nearby towns, shaking the ground and causing the collapse of a nearby building, according to eyewitnesses and state media. Footage circulating on local platforms showed a massive blast tearing through the port complex, one of Iran’s largest and most strategic facilities located along the Strait of Hormuz.
Mehrdad Hassanzadeh, head of Hormozgan province’s crisis management agency, said the explosion was triggered by the detonation of several stored containers in the yard. He added that emergency and rapid response teams were immediately deployed to assist in the evacuation of the wounded, who have since been transferred to hospitals across the province.
Authorities have ruled out an ammonia tank as the source of the explosion. State television reported that the blast was linked to a container, though it remains unclear what the container held. Investigations are ongoing, and officials have pledged to release their findings to the public once available.
Despite the magnitude of the explosion, no fatalities have been reported so far. Security forces have cordoned off the area as investigations continue.
The Shahid Rajaee port, a vital hub for Iran’s imports and exports, has previously been the target of cyberattacks and operational disruptions, though officials have not suggested foul play in Saturday’s incident.
