A catastrophic explosion at Shahid Rajaee port, Iran's busiest shipping facility located in Bandar Abbas, has resulted in a rising death toll of 25, with over 1,100 individuals injured as confirmed by state media on Sunday. The incident, which occurred on Saturday evening, erupted into a significant fire that wreaked havoc in the vicinity. In light of airborne toxic emissions, Iran's health ministry has urged citizens in the region to remain indoors.
The strategically vital Shahid Rajaee port, positioned along the pivotal Strait of Hormuz, is critical to Iran's logistics, accounting for 85% of the nation's container traffic and a substantial portion of its oil exports, according to the Port and Maritime Organization. By Sunday morning, fire crews reported that they had managed to contain most of the blaze, though around 20% remained under control.
Initial reports from Iranian authorities suggest that the explosion was likely triggered by chemical containers, a theory which has not been accompanied by claims of sabotage or terrorist activities. Notably, five years ago, the port was targeted by a cyberattack attributed to Israel, which hampered its operations. However, Israeli officials have remained silent on this latest incident.
Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian announced that the country's interior minister would be dispatched to oversee an investigation into the explosion's cause. Furthermore, he urged expedited efforts for the reconstruction and reopening of the port. In a separate statement, First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref emphasized the necessity of enhancing safety protocols across ports and industrial settings to avert future disasters.
