Iran port explosion: Death toll rises to 70, over 1,200 injured in Bandar Abbas blast
The death toll has risen to at least 70, with more than 1,200 injured, following a massive explosion at Iran's most important container port of Bandar Abbas on Monday. The blast, which occurred Saturday in the Shahid Rajaee section of the port — Iran's key container hub — unleashed a raging fire that firefighters battled to control amid sporadic flare-ups fueled by strong winds and highly flammable cargo. Officials said the fire is now under control, although toxic emissions have been reported due to burning materials inside the containers.advertisement"After putting the huge fire under control, rescue operations are underway," Hormozgan Province Governor told state media. He warned that clearing the area could take "up to two weeks" because of the dangerous conditions.
Iran's ISNA news agency cited its interior minister Eskandar Momeni as saying national operations to confront the fire in Shahid Rajaee had ended and the management of firefighting had been handed over to local authorities. "Shortcomings in regards to not respecting security protocols have been identified and some of the individuals at fault have been summoned," Momeni said, according to Iranian media.An initial report from the investigative committee pointed to failures in civil defense and security protocols as contributing factors to the tragedy. As of Monday, around 22 people remain missing, and 22 bodies recovered from the site have yet to be identified, state TV cited the governor of Hormozgan as saying.advertisementMeanwhile, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Sunday ordered an investigation to "uncover any negligence or intent" behind the incident, an indication that authorities are not ruling out sabotage.The incident occurred as Iran began a third round of nuclear talks with the United States in Oman, but there was no indication of a link between the two events.Iran's Infrastructure Communications Company said on Monday that a large cyber attack against the country's infrastructure had been repelled a day after the blast, without providing more detail.Poor storage of chemicals in containers is suspected of having caused the explosion. A spokesperson for the crisis management organisation said on Saturday that earlier warnings had highlighted potential safety risks at the port.(With inputs from Reuters)Also Read: Spain declares state of emergency after nationwide power blackout
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