At least 40 people have died and more than 1,200 others have been injured following a massive explosion and fire at Shahid Rajaee Port in Iran’s southern Hormozgan province. Iranian state media and international sources report that 197 victims remain hospitalized as emergency crews continue to stabilize the situation.
The explosion, which occurred on Saturday, April 26, is believed to have originated in a cluster of shipping containers, some of which reportedly contained flammable and chemical materials, including pitch. Although the exact cause remains undetermined, closed-circuit camera footage cited by the semi-official Tasnim News Agency showed a small fire breaking out before a large detonation occurred approximately 90 seconds later.
President Masoud Pezeshkian visited the blast site on Sunday, meeting with victims and surveying the damage. His office issued a statement confirming the visit and expressing the administration’s commitment to supporting recovery and investigation efforts. Government spokeswoman Fatemeh Mohajerani announced on social media platform X that Monday, April 28, has been declared a national day of mourning.
Hossein Sajedinia, head of the National Disaster Management Organization, told state broadcaster IRIB that firefighting units from five provinces were deployed to contain the blaze. He estimated the fire would be brought under control within hours and highlighted the complexity of extinguishing flames involving chemical substances.
Despite the disaster, Iran’s IRNA news agency reported that port operations at Shahid Rajaee — the country’s largest container terminal — have partially resumed, though the impact on logistics and shipping continues to be assessed.
As of now, no official confirmation has been given regarding the exact nature of the materials involved, though speculation has surfaced over the possible presence of ammonium-based chemicals. Authorities have not linked the blast to any deliberate act, and investigations remain ongoing.
Sources:
- IRIB News (via Reuters and AP)
- Tasnim News Agency
- Xinhua News Agency
- IRNA (Islamic Republic News Agency)
- Public statements from the Office of the President of Iran
