The death toll from a massive explosion at Iran’s largest commercial port has climbed to 28, the head of the Iranian Red Crescent, Pirhossein Koolivand, confirmed on Sunday, updating earlier figures released by state media.
“Unfortunately, 28 people have so far died,” Koolivand said in a video published on the Iranian government’s official website. He added that some of the over 1,000 injured in the blast at Shahid Rajaee Port had been transferred to hospitals in Tehran for specialized treatment.
Explosion at vital commercial hub
The explosion occurred on Saturday at Shahid Rajaee Port in southern Iran, near the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway through which approximately 20% of global oil supply is transported. Fires continued to burn at the site more than 24 hours later, with thick black smoke visible across the area.
According to a statement from the port’s customs office, carried by state television, the explosion was likely triggered by a fire in a hazardous materials storage facility. A regional emergency official added that multiple shipping containers exploded, intensifying the blast.
The New York Times, citing a source with ties to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), reported that sodium perchlorate—a key component in solid missile fuel—was the substance that exploded.
Conflicting reports, mounting casualties
Initial figures from state TV reported 800 injuries, while the semi-official Tasnim News Agency, citing provincial judiciary officials, updated the death toll to 25 before the Red Crescent announced the higher figure of 28 fatalities.
Live footage on Sunday showed a scene of devastation, with port buildings severely damaged, streets littered with debris, and emergency responders continuing to douse flames. Helicopters were seen dropping water over large columns of smoke rising from behind stacked shipping containers.
“The fire is under control but still not completely extinguished,” a state TV reporter said Sunday evening, nearly 20 hours after the blast. Residents up to 50 kilometers (30 miles) away reportedly felt the shockwave.
Government response and public mourning
Speaking from the scene, Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni said the situation had “stabilised in the main areas” of the port, and that container loading and customs operations had resumed.
President Masoud Pezeshkian expressed condolences to the victims and ordered an immediate investigation into the cause of the blast.
In the aftermath, authorities declared three days of public mourning in Hormozgan Province. All schools and government offices in Bandar Abbas, the provincial capital, were closed on Sunday due to heavy smoke and toxic air pollution. The health ministry advised residents to remain indoors and wear protective masks.
Regional and international reactions
The United Arab Emirates expressed “solidarity with Iran,” while Saudi Arabia issued official condolences. China reported that three of its nationals sustained minor injuries.
The explosion occurred just as Iranian and U.S. officials were holding high-level discussions in Oman on Tehran’s nuclear programme, with both sides reporting some progress.
While Iranian officials have so far treated the incident as an accident, the timing has raised concerns amid ongoing regional tensions and a history of cyber and covert operations. In 2020, The Washington Post reported that Israel launched a cyberattack on Shahid Rajaee Port, disrupting operations for days.
Despite the blast, the National Iranian Oil Products Distribution Company said the incident did not affect its operations, stressing that the explosion occurred away from its facilities.
AFP
