Death Toll Grows Following Suspected Chemical Explosion In Iran

At least 25 people have been killed and hundreds injured after a massive explosion at Iran’s strategic port of Shahid Rajaee.

The major Iranian port is a crucial hub for oil and petrochemical exports near the Strait of Hormuz.

Iranian authorities are investigating the cause which has left at least 25 people are dead and around 800 others injured, according to reports.

New WEF Leader Decrees All Water in the World Belongs to Global Government

The blast occurred at approximately 11:55am on Saturday at the port facility which is located on the Strait of Hormuz about 1,050 kilometers southeast of Tehran. The port was targeted in a suspected Israeli cyberattack in 2020.

RT reports: Early Sunday morning, the director general of Hormozgan Province’s crisis management reported that 18 people had been confirmed dead, with the number of injured exceeding 800. He noted that about two-thirds of those hospitalized have already been discharged from medical centers, while the rest continue to receive treatment.

Firefighters were still battling the blaze late into the night. Authorities secured the area and adjacent customs facilities to conduct a probe, suspecting poor chemical storage as a possible cause.

“The cause of the explosion was the chemicals inside the containers,” Hossein Zafari, a spokesperson for the country’s crisis management organization, told Iranian Labour News Agency (ILNA). “Previously, the director general of crisis management had given warnings to this port during their visits and had pointed out the possibility of danger.”

However, the exact cause had not yet been officially determined, government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani told media outlets.

Iranian media provided conflicting accounts of the incident, with some suggesting the initial blast occurred at an administrative building, while others claimed a gas tanker may have exploded. A close-up video circulating online appeared to show the epicenter located at a freight container stockpile.

Other footage posted online showed thick smoke rising over the port area, as authorities evacuated nearby neighborhoods and temporarily suspended port operations.

In response to concerns regarding air quality, Iran’s health ministry declared a public health emergency in Bandar Abbas, warning of the potential spread of hazardous pollutants including ammonia, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide. Residents were urged to stay indoors, avoid outdoor activities, and keep windows closed. Vulnerable groups – including people with respiratory or heart conditions, children, pregnant women, and the elderly – were advised to wear masks.

Several countries, including the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Japan, and Russia, have expressed condolences following the disaster.