The deadly explosion at Iran's largest container port, which has left at least 70 dead and over 1,000 injured, is being attributed to negligence in safety practices. Investigations are underway as officials seek answers amidst conflicting reports on the cause of the blast.
Iran Investigates Cause of Deadly Port Explosion as Casualties Grow
Iran Investigates Cause of Deadly Port Explosion as Casualties Grow
Officials attribute the devastating blast at Shahid Rajaee port to negligence and potential regulatory failures.
Iran's interior minister has attributed the tragic explosion and fires at Shahid Rajaee port in Bandar Abbas to negligence, with the death toll having risen to at least 70. Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni explained that the catastrophic incident was a result of "shortcomings, including noncompliance with safety precautions and negligence." He revealed that "some individuals deemed responsible" had been summoned for questioning.
The blast, which transpired on Saturday, has left over 1,000 people injured, and firefighting crews were still combating the flames two days after the disaster. According to local officials, customs authorities announced that the fire originated from imported cargo that had ignited and exploded. Moreover, Hormozgan province's crisis management director, Mehrdad Hassanzadeh, noted that firefighting efforts were nearly complete, although cleanup operations at the port could extend for several days. He predicted a full return to normalcy may take one to two weeks.
The incident affected an area of approximately 1,500 hectares (about 3,700 acres), with an official from the port management firm attributing the explosion to "a repeated and catastrophic error involving false declarations of hazardous goods." In contrast, Iran's defense ministry denied claims that the explosion arose from mishandling shipments of sodium perchlorate, a substance utilized in ballistic missile fuel. Brig Gen Reza Talai-Nik labeled foreign media reports as "fake news" and reassured the public there had been no military-related cargo involved.
However, Ambrey Intelligence, a maritime risk consultancy, indicated that sodium perchlorate was indeed received at the port recently, which casts doubt on official statements. Even a report from The New York Times referenced an unnamed source connected to Iran’s Revolutionary Guards implicating the same material as a potential cause for the explosion.
As the investigation unfolds, public outcry is mounting, reflecting both grief and frustration in the face of this deadly incident and its aftermath.
