Deadly explosion hits Iran's Shahid Rajaee port

A devastating explosion at Shahid Rajaee port in southern Iran has claimed 14 lives and injured between 700-750 people, according to Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni. The blast occurred Saturday when a fuel tanker exploded at Iran's largest container port in Hormozgan Province, with 212 of the injured receiving outpatient treatment.

The explosion was extremely powerful, completely destroying an administrative building within the port complex and severely damaging numerous vehicles. The blast originated at approximately 11:55 local time, with the fire continuing to burn more than 10 hours after chemicals stored in the port ignited.

Babak Mahmoudi, head of Iran's Relief and Rescue Organization, reported that multiple relief teams were quickly dispatched to the scene. "Helicopters were also deployed to extinguish the fire," he said, noting that another helicopter was sent for emergency services. Many injuries were caused by broken glass, with most being superficial wounds.

All port operations at the facility have been suspended as emergency teams work to secure the area. Authorities declared a state of emergency at hospitals across nearby Bandar Abbas to prepare for casualties.

President Masoud Pezeshkian issued specific directives in phone calls with the interior minister and Hormozgan's governor, ordering immediate coordinated measures to assist the injured. He tasked the interior minister with traveling to Bandar Abbas to oversee the response and investigate the incident.

The governor of Hormozgan province declared Sunday a holiday in Bandar Abbas to control the situation and prevent harm to citizens from pollution caused by the fire.

Shahid Rajaee port handles more than 70 million metric tons of cargo annually, including over 3 million containers, making it one of the region's largest container ports. Authorities have stopped cargo processing at all 23 docks despite the explosion affecting only one dock and its related facilities.

World leaders have offered condolences and sympathies to President Pezeshkian over the tragic incident.