At least 14 people were killed and hundreds injured by an explosion and fire at the strategic Shahid Rajaee port

The death toll from an explosion at Iran's largest and most modern port - a vital Strait of Hormuz hub for oil and petrochemical exports - has climbed to at least 14, with hundreds injured, according to the interior minister.

The explosion rocked the Shahid Rajaee facility in the city of Bandar Abbas around 11:55am on Saturday, injuring over 750 people. Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni said that some 300 victims were still hospitalized as of Saturday evening, while the number of confirmed fatalities had grown to 14.

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 Iran's crisis management organization, told Iran's ILNA news agency. "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 IRNA, warning against jumping to conclusions.

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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 the freight container stockpile.

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

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In response to concerns over 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. Saudi Arabia said it was ready to provide any assistance requested by Iran, while Russia's embassy in Tehran stated it would promptly relay any Iranian request for help to Moscow. Iraq's foreign ministry also offered support, with Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani ordering officials to coordinate aid efforts with Iranian authorities.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian offered his condolences to the victims and ordered a full investigation. Iran's Prosecutor General instructed the provincial office to "deal with the possible perpetrators of the incident with utmost seriousness."

Shahid Rajaee port is a strategic facility located on the Strait of Hormuz about 1,050 kilometers southeast of Tehran. The port was targeted in a suspected Israeli cyberattack in 2020. Iranian officials have not blamed any outside actor for Saturday's incident, although Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned earlier this week that "our security services are on high alert given past instances of attempted sabotage."

(RT.com)