Massive Fire Erupts At Iran’s Largest Port Facility, Over 500 Injured

A powerful explosion has shaken Shahid Rajaee port near Bandar Abbas, a major southern port city in Iran, on April 26, 2025, leaving at least 516 people injured, according to Iranian state media and emergency officials.

The blast resulted in a huge fire, with thick columns of black and grey smoke rising high above the port, which is one of Iran’s main commercial hubs and oil facilities.

Videos and images from the scene showed shattered glass and debris scattered over a wide area, with smoke visible from kilometres away.

Per reports from state broadcaster IRIB and news agency Tasnim, the explosion occurred in the chemical and sulfur storage area of the port.

The cause of the blast has not yet been confirmed, but authorities said a fuel tank and several containers exploded, setting off the devastating fire.

Mehrdad Hassanzadeh, head of Hormozgan province’s crisis management organisation, stated that emergency services had responded swiftly and that the injured were being transferred to nearby medical centers.

He stated that many port buildings suffered severe damage due to the shockwave, which could be felt and heard up to 50 kilometers away.

Emergency officials revealed that safety teams had earlier inspected the site and issued warnings about potential hazards.

Iranian state television mentioned that initial assessments suggested negligence in the storage of flammable materials might have caused the disaster.

The semi-official Tasnim news agency reported that the port area remains chaotic, with extensive damage to infrastructure.

Authorities fear fatalities could emerge given the number of workers present at the time, although no deaths have yet been officially confirmed.

The National Iranian Oil Products Distribution Company issued a statement clarifying that the explosion was unrelated to any refineries, fuel tanks, distribution centers, or oil pipelines.

It assured that Bandar Abbas’ oil facilities continue to operate normally.

The Shahid Rajaee Port is Iran’s most advanced container terminal, located about 23 kilometres west of Bandar Abbas and north of the strategic Strait of Hormuz, through which around 20% of global oil supplies pass.

The port handles around 80 million tons (72.5 million metric tons) of goods annually.

Social media footage showed widespread destruction, including buildings with blown-out windows kilometers away from the explosion site.

State TV also reported a building collapse inside the port area, although further details were not provided.

Authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the explosion. Iran’s First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref ordered a full inquiry to determine what triggered the incident and to assess the extent of the damage, according to the ISNA news agency.

Industrial accidents are not uncommon in Iran, particularly at aging infrastructure sites struggling with maintenance under international sanctions.

However, Iranian officials stated that the country’s energy infrastructure was not involved in this latest incident.

The blast occurred while Iran and the United States were meeting in Oman for a third round of negotiations over Tehran’s nuclear program.

Sources close to the United States Special Envoy, Steve Witkoff, confirmed that talks had begun in Muscat, although no immediate outcomes were disclosed.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also participated in the meetings after arriving in Oman on Friday.

The explosion marks one of the most serious industrial accidents Iran has faced in recent months, following a deadly coal mine blast in September that killed more than 50 people in the eastern city of Tabas.

References: CNN, Firstpost