Hundreds injured and deaths reported in Iran explosion

On Saturday morning, a significant explosion occurred at the Shahid Rajaee port in Bandar Abbas, a city located in southern Iran. This tragic event has resulted in at least four fatalities and around 500 injuries, according to reports from state media. The explosion was so powerful that it shattered windows in nearby office buildings and caused the roof of at least one structure to collapse. Eyewitness footage captured the chaos as people fled from the wharves, with many individuals seen lying injured on the streets. There are also alarming reports of individuals trapped beneath the debris of collapsed walls. A large fire continues to burn at the container terminal, with images showing thick clouds of black smoke rising ominously over the port area. In response to the emergency, authorities have dispatched helicopter crews to help extinguish the flames, while medical teams are working tirelessly to transport the injured to local hospitals. One official mentioned that some workers remain trapped under the collapsed roofs, and efforts are underway to rescue them. Videos circulating online depict the moments leading up to the explosion, with people bracing for impact before fleeing the scene. Witnesses have indicated that the explosion was preceded by a fire that spread to unsealed containers containing flammable materials, likely chemicals. A crisis management official stated, 'The source of this incident was the explosion of several containers stored in the Shahid Rajaee Port wharf area. ' An analysis from a maritime risk firm suggested that the affected containers may have contained solid fuel intended for Iranian missiles. They reported that there were 12 merchant vessels within five nautical miles of the explosion at the time, with seven of those vessels docked at the port. The Shahid Rajaee port is Iran's largest commercial port, situated on the southern coast near the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial shipping route for oil. It is located approximately 20 kilometers west of Bandar Abbas, the capital of Hormozgan province. Local media reported that Iran's national oil production company stated the explosion had 'no connection' to the country's oil refineries, fuel tanks, or pipelines. The explosion was so intense that residents reported hearing and feeling it from as far as 50 kilometers away. In light of this disaster, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian expressed his 'deep regret and sympathy' for the victims and announced that a government investigation would be conducted to determine the cause of the explosion.