Iranian Authorities Stabilise Situation After Deadly Port Explosion.
Fires continued to smoulder on Sunday following a devastating explosion at Iran’s largest commercial port, Shahid Rajaee, which left at least 25 people dead and hundreds more injured.
The blast occurred on Saturday at the port located in southern Iran, near the crucial Strait of Hormuz, a key artery through which a fifth of the world’s oil supply passes. According to local reports, the explosion was triggered by a fire at a hazardous and chemical materials storage depot, leading to the detonation of several containers.
Initial assessments suggested that the highly explosive substance sodium perchlorate, used in missile fuel, may have been involved. However, officials have yet to confirm the precise cause publicly.
State television reported that around 800 people sustained injuries in the blast, which was so powerful it could be felt and heard up to 50 kilometres away. Live footage showed thick black smoke still rising from the port more than 20 hours after the explosion, although officials confirmed that the fire was largely under control.
Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni, speaking from the site on Sunday, announced that operations had resumed in the main areas of the port, with workers once again loading containers and clearing customs processes.
Dramatic images captured by local media depicted the aftermath: a boulevard strewn with debris, rescue teams navigating mangled vehicles, and helicopters dropping water over towering clouds of smoke. Many port buildings reportedly suffered severe damage due to the force of the shockwave.
Authorities have pledged a full investigation into the incident as efforts continue to fully extinguish the remaining fires and restore operations at the strategic port.