Four dead and more than 500 injured after explosion at oil port

A powerful explosion rocked the Shahid Rajaee port in the southern Iranian city of Bandar Abbas on Saturday , leaving at least four dead and more than 500 injured , local authorities confirmed. The incident affected a large area of ​​the port, damaged buildings for several hundred meters, and sparked a massive fire that is still raging.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian ordered an immediate investigation into the cause of the crash and sent the interior minister to the region to “ examine the magnitude of the accident ,” he said on his X (formerly Twitter) account.

The explosion, which originated in the port's chemical and sulfur area, caused containers loaded with hazardous materials to explode , including oil and general shipping, according to CNN . However, authorities warned that the fire will need to be completely extinguished before determining the exact cause of the incident.

Government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani explained that some chemical containers stored in a corner of the port likely caused the explosion. "Until the fire is completely under control, the source cannot be confirmed," she said.

For their part, Israeli officials denied involvement in the incident , following speculation given the history of tensions between the two countries. According to Israel's Channel 12, the government asserted that it had no involvement in what happened.

Shahid Rajaee is one of Iran's main port facilities , covering 2,400 hectares. It handles approximately 70 million tons of cargo annually and has 35 berths, as well as vast warehouses totaling more than 500,000 square meters, according to CNN.

Following the incident, port activities were suspended to facilitate rescue efforts and prevent further risks. The sound of the explosion was so loud it could be heard up to 50 kilometers away, according to local reports.

Despite the magnitude of the tragedy, the National Oil Refining and Distribution Company reported that its operations in Bandar Abbas have not been affected.

It's worth remembering that this same port suffered a cyberattack in 2020, which was then attributed to Israel, increasing sensitivity to this type of incident in the region.