A powerful explosion tore through the Shahid Rajaee port in southern Iran on Saturday, killing four people and injuring more than 500, according to Iranian state media.
State television reported that emergency services transferred hundreds of injured victims to medical centres across Hormozgan province, where the strategic port is located. The Shahid Rajaee port, situated about 23 kilometres west of Bandar Abbas and north of the Strait of Hormuz, is Iran’s largest and most advanced container facility.
“The explosion occurred in a part of the Shahid Rajaee port dock, and we are extinguishing the fire,” Esmaeil Malekizadeh, a regional port official, told state TV. Video footage broadcast from the scene showed thick plumes of black smoke rising above stacks of containers, as fire crews battled to control the blaze.
Mokhtar Salahshour, head of the Hormozgan Red Crescent Society, said four rapid response teams were deployed immediately after the explosion. Emergency workers continued efforts throughout the day to extinguish fires and evacuate the injured.
Mehrdad Hassanzadeh, head of the province’s crisis management authority, confirmed that the blast was triggered by the explosion of several containers stored at the port’s wharf area. He added that authorities were working swiftly to transport the wounded to nearby hospitals, though exact casualty figures remained unclear.
The Shahid Rajaee port plays a vital role in Iran’s economy, handling a significant portion of the country’s imports and exports. Its location near the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway for global oil shipments, highlights the strategic importance of the facility.
Authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the explosion as recovery operations continue.
