Massive Explosion at Shahid Rajaee Port in Southern Iran Leaves Five Dead, Over 700 Injured

A devastating explosion has rocked the Shahid Rajaee port in southern Iran, resulting in extensive damage and numerous casualties. Emergency teams have been deployed to the site as efforts are underway to manage the situation.

The head of Crisis Management for Hormozgan Province has reported that the number of fatalities resulting from the explosion has increased to five.

A devastating incident occurred at Shahid Rajaee port in Hormozgan Province on Saturday, resulting in injuries to over 700 individuals following an explosion of a fuel tanker for reasons yet to be determined.

The injured individuals have been transported to medical facilities in Hormozgan for treatment.

The director general of Hormozgan’s crisis management department reported that the explosion was exceptionally powerful, though the cause remains undetermined.

Preliminary assessments suggest that the explosion emanated from an administrative facility located within the port area. The intensity of the blast led to the total destruction of the building and caused extensive damage to numerous vehicles in the vicinity.

Babak Mahmoudi, the director of Iran’s Relief and Rescue Organization, previously informed Press TV that the devastating explosion at Shahid Rajaee resulted in the deaths of four individuals.

According to Mahmoudi in an interview with Press TV, a total of 516 individuals have sustained injuries and have been evacuated from the scene. The majority of the injuries were caused by broken glass, resulting mostly in superficial wounds, and many have since been discharged. Unfortunately, four fatalities have been confirmed at the location, which housed chemical storage facilities.

Officials have reported that the fire remains active, with firefighters diligently working to extinguish the flames. Authorities expressed optimism that the situation could be brought under control within the coming hours.

Mahmoudi provided additional details, stating that the explosion occurred at approximately 11:55 AM local time. He noted that numerous relief and rescue teams were promptly deployed to the location.

Helicopters were utilized in firefighting efforts, with an additional helicopter dispatched to provide emergency services, he confirmed.

In the aftermath of the incident, port operations were halted as security and emergency personnel mobilized to secure the vicinity. Officials swiftly declared a state of emergency at hospitals in Bandar Abbas, anticipating potential mass casualties.

A special committee has been established by Parliament.

Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf has declared the establishment of a dedicated committee. This committee will include members from four specialized parliamentary commissions: Civil Affairs, National Security, Internal Affairs, and Health.

The committee has been assigned the responsibility of carrying out an on-site investigation to examine the situation and assess the response efforts, he stated.

The mission involves delivering a comprehensive and transparent report on the incident’s management and the performance of relevant authorities to Parliament.