Massive Explosion Rocks Bandar Abbas Port: 14 Dead, Hundreds Injured

A devastating explosion at the Shahid Rajaee section of Bandar Abbas Port in southwestern Iran has left at least 14 people dead and over 750 injured, according to reports from official Iranian media quoting the country's interior ministry. Videos verified by CNN show a massive cloud of thick, gray smoke rising from the port area, with initial government statements suggesting the blast was likely linked to chemicals stored at the facility.

Iran’s Minister of Interior, Eskandar Momeni, confirmed that six individuals remain missing as emergency crews continue battling the intense fire fueled by high winds. No definitive cause has been announced yet, though government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani indicated that containers possibly holding chemicals may have triggered the explosion. She emphasized that investigators would not be able to confirm the exact cause until the flames were fully extinguished.

Following the explosion, Iranian authorities declared a state of emergency in Bandar Abbas, warning residents of a sharp increase in air pollution. The Ministry of Health quickly dispatched health teams and urged citizens to remain indoors, limit outdoor activities, and seal their homes by closing all windows, as broadcasted through national media channels.

Surveillance footage captured by Mehr news agency showed the terrifying moment of the explosion, believed to have erupted from a warehouse within the port. Other clips revealed helicopters frantically dumping water over the raging blaze, while debris from the blast scattered across a wide radius, severely damaging numerous port buildings and shattering windows several kilometers away.

Several reports indicated that people may be trapped under the rubble of collapsed structures. The region’s governor, Mohammad Ashouri Taziani, stated that the injured were being transferred to local medical facilities in Bandar Abbas. Authorities have temporarily shut down the port and suspended all maritime activities as a precaution.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian announced the launch of a formal investigation into the disaster, posting on X (formerly Twitter) that he had dispatched the interior minister to the scene to oversee the assessment. State broadcaster IRIB reported that the explosion occurred specifically in the section of the port designated for chemical and sulfur storage.

The catastrophe has deeply shaken the nation, with many citizens seen rushing to health centers to donate blood for the victims, as reported by Iran’s Press TV. Shahid Rajaee Port, a critical hub handling 70 million tons of cargo annually across 2,400 hectares, plays a major role in Iran's shipping operations, boasting nearly 500,000 square meters of warehouses and 35 berths.