Iran names likely cause of powerful explosion in port, and death toll rises

According to the latest reports, the explosion that occurred on Saturday, April 26, at Iran's largest port, Bandar Abbas, has claimed at least 14 lives and injured more than 700 people.

Hossein Zafari, spokesperson for Iran's Crisis Management Organization, attributed the explosion to the improper storage of chemicals in containers at Shahid Rajaee Port.

"The cause of the explosion was the chemicals inside the containers," Iranian news agency ILNA quoted him as saying.

Zafari also mentioned that the director general of the crisis management department had previously warned the port during his visits, highlighting the potential danger.

However, the Iranian government spokesperson stated that while chemicals likely caused the explosion, the exact reason could not yet be determined.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian ordered an investigation into the incident and sent his Minister of the Interior to the site. As stated by the head of the country's Navy, efforts to mitigate the aftermath, including extinguishing the fire and preventing it from spreading to other areas, are still ongoing.

According to Iranian state media, Shahid Rajaee Port, located near the strategically important Hormuz Strait, is the country's largest container hub, where most of the containerized cargo is transported.

It was also reported that the explosion shattered windows within a radius of several kilometers, and the blast was heard on the island of Qeshm, located 26 kilometers south of the port.

A powerful blast rocked Rajaei Port in Bandar Abbas, southern Iran, earlier today, reportedly injuring hundreds. Officials are working to conceal details about the incident’s cause. Meanwhile, an outlet linked to the IRGC has stated that a fuel tank mysteriously detonated. pic.twitter.com/zFsuygGPuq

— Facts on Iran (@FactsOnIran) April 26, 2025

Earlier, Iranian state television reported that improper handling of flammable materials was a contributing factor to the explosion at the port.

Powerful explosion rocked Shahid Rajaee port in Bandar Abbas, southern #Iran.

Residents reported the blast shook the ground and was audible in nearby towns. The cause and any casualties remain unclear.

Hormozgan province’s crisis management chief said, "A strong explosion… pic.twitter.com/Li9wVRMYov

— Eagle Eye (@zarrar_11PK) April 26, 2025

A representative from the local crisis management service informed Iranian state television that the explosion occurred after several containers, which were stored at the port, detonated.

While emergency workers were attempting to extinguish the fires, port customs officials reported that trucks had been evacuated from the area, and the container yard where the explosion took place likely contained dangerous cargo and chemicals.

It was also noted that operations at the port were suspended following the explosion.

Powerful explosion in an Iranian port

On April 26, a powerful explosion occurred in a port in southern Iran, with the epicenter located at the administrative building near the pier at Shahid Rajaei Port.

Initially, media reports mentioned 516 injured and 4 fatalities. However, the number of casualties and injuries continued to rise throughout the day. By Saturday evening, according to data released by Iran’s Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni, the death toll had risen to 8, with nearly 750 people injured.

It was also reported that in the last hours, the fire intensified, and the flames spread to nearby cargo containers.

For more details on the massive explosion in Iran's port, read the full article by RBC-Ukraine.