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A major explosion struck a vital port in southern Iran on Saturday, injuring more than 500 individuals, according to state media reports. The cause of the blast has yet to be determined.
The incident occurred at Shahid Rajaee Port, Iran’s largest commercial shipping hub, situated in Hormozgan province along the southern coast.
Footage aired by state television showed thick black smoke billowing from the port’s container storage area, with helicopters deployed in firefighting efforts.
Emergency officials reported that at least 516 people had sustained injuries, with “hundreds” transferred to nearby medical centres, revising initial casualty estimates.
Esmaeil Malekizadeh, a regional ports official, told state TV that the explosion took place on part of the Shahid Rajaee dock and that fire crews were battling to control the blaze.
The customs authority at the port suggested that the blast was likely triggered by a fire in the depot where hazardous and chemical materials were stored.
Shahid Rajaee Port, located over 1,000 kilometres (around 620 miles) south of Tehran and some 23 kilometres west of Bandar Abbas, is recognised as Iran’s most advanced container port. It lies close to the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway through which around 20% of the world’s oil supply is transported.
As emergency teams rushed to the scene, Iran’s First Vice President, Mohammad Reza Aref, ordered an immediate investigation into the cause of the explosion and the full extent of the damage, according to the ISNA news agency.
The head of crisis management in Hormozgan province, Mehrdad Hassanzadeh, said on state TV that “the incident was caused by the explosion of several containers stored in the wharf area of Shahid Rajaee Port.”
“We are in the process of evacuating and transporting the injured to nearby medical facilities,” he added.
The blast’s impact was felt up to 50 kilometres away, according to the Fars news agency, with residents reporting that the ground shook underfoot even at a considerable distance.
Tasnim news agency reported that “the shockwave was so powerful that it caused severe damage to most of the port’s buildings.”
In a separate statement, the National Iranian Oil Products Distribution Company said the explosion had no link to refineries, fuel storage, distribution centres, or oil pipelines in the area. It confirmed that “Bandar Abbas oil facilities are operating normally without disruption.”
This rare industrial explosion follows several months after a deadly coal mine disaster in Tabas, eastern Iran, which killed over 50 people due to a gas leak.
The timing of the blast coincides with sensitive diplomatic meetings between Iranian and United States delegations in Oman, where discussions on Iran’s nuclear programme are underway.
