An enormous explosion rocked a key Iranian port on Saturday, with Iranian media reporting around 700 people injured. The blast occurred at Shahid Rajaee Port, south of Iran's main port city Bandar Abbas, through which some 90% of the country's imports are routed. The cause of the explosion have not yet been determined.
The explosion was powerful enough to shatter windows in buildings several kilometers away and was heard up to 50 kilometers (about 31 miles) from the site.
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According to Iranian reports, the initial blast took place in the customs area of Shahid Rajaee Port, specifically within a company area identified as "Sina." Authorities believe the explosion originated in a warehouse storing hazardous goods and chemicals. In response, Iran's customs authority issued an urgent directive halting the dispatch of goods to the port until further notice.
Footage from the scene shows heavy smoke billowing into the sky. Shahid Rajaee Port had previously been the target of a cyberattack in May 2020 that was attributed to Israel. Administrative buildings and a fuel depot were also damaged in the current incident.
Conflicting reports have emerged regarding the source of the blast, with some suggesting it began in a fuel tank while others pointed to an area of the port's pier.
Iran's National Iranian Oil Refining and Distribution Company announced that the explosion was unrelated to the area's refineries, fuel storage facilities or distribution networks, adding that operations at its Bandar Abbas installations continued without interruption.
Located to the east of Bandar Abbas, Shahid Rajaee Port is part of a major port and energy infrastructure complex that handles a significant portion of Iran's exports.
In the May 2020 cyberattack, operations at Shahid Rajaee were disrupted for several days.
