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International Desk
April 26, 2025
A massive explosion rocked the Shahid Rajai Port in Iran’s port city of Bandar Abbas on Saturday (April 26), killing four people and injuring more than 516 others. The blast, which occurred around noon, sent shockwaves through the port and surrounding areas, causing widespread damage.
Iranian authorities have ruled out sabotage, attributing the explosion to flammable materials. According to Hossein Jafari, spokesperson for Iran’s Crisis Management Organization, the explosion was triggered by chemicals stored inside a container. However, no further details were provided.
The intensity of the blast was so severe that windows of homes and buildings 16 kilometers away were shattered, and doors and windows of a port building were blown off. Rescue operations were promptly launched, with emergency teams seen evacuating the injured from damaged infrastructure. Hospitals in the area reported a surge of patients following the incident.
Babak Mahmoudi, head of Iran’s Rescue Organization, confirmed the death toll and the number of injuries. State television reported that the accident resulted from improper handling of flammable materials.
Shahid Rajai Port, one of Iran’s largest and most modern ports, handles approximately 80 million tons of cargo annually, primarily through container operations. Industrial accidents are not uncommon in Iran, where aging infrastructure, particularly in the oil sector, is strained due to Western sanctions.
The explosion comes at a time of heightened tensions between Iran and Israel, as well as ongoing nuclear talks with the United States. Initial speculation of sabotage was dismissed by Iranian officials, and Israel has also denied any involvement in the incident.
AI/MR
