A big explosion shook Shahid Rajaee port near Bandar Abbas, southern Iran, over the weekend. Iranian officials said the death toll has now climbed to at least 40 people.
The blast hit early Saturday morning. It damaged many nearby buildings and caused several fires. More than 1,000 people got hurt in the incident.
Drone footage showed three different areas on fire. Schools and offices nearby were closed on Sunday. Rescue teams rushed in to control the fire and help the injured.
Why Did the Explosion Happen?
Iranian officials are still investigating the exact cause. However, Hossein Zafari from Iran’s crisis management team said poor storage of chemicals in containers likely caused it.
He told local news that the chemicals inside the containers sparked the explosion.
Meanwhile, British maritime security company Ambrey shared its own view. It said the containers might have held solid fuel meant for ballistic missiles. Ambrey also mentioned that an Iran-flagged ship had delivered rocket fuel to the port in March 2025.
Zafari added that warnings about chemical safety had been given to port officials in the past.
Where Did the Blast Take Place?
The explosion happened at Shahid Rajaee port, Iran’s biggest container hub. This port handles most of the country’s shipping goods. It sits on the important Strait of Hormuz.
This is not the first incident at Shahid Rajaee. In May 2020, the port faced a major cyberattack. Iran blamed Israel for that attack.
Luckily, Iranian authorities confirmed that oil facilities were safe this time. No ships were damaged, and no crew members were reported hurt.
Adapted for www.shiportrade.com.
News originally published by splash247
