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Egypt Independent
27-04-2025
- Health
- Egypt Independent
Massive explosion at Iranian port kills 18 and injures hundreds
CNN — At least 18 people have been killed and 750 injured in a huge explosion at the port of Bandar Abbas in southern Iran, according to official Iranian media citing the country's interior ministry. The explosion sent a huge plume of thick, gray smoke from the Shahid Rajaee part of the port complex, according to videos geolocated by CNN, with the government saying the blast was likely linked to chemicals being stored. Iran's Minister of Interior Eskandar Momeni said six people remain missing as firefighters continue to work to extinguish the blaze, despite challenges posed by high winds, Iranian media reported. No cause has been given for the explosion. A government spokeswoman, Fatemeh Mohajerani, said it would take some time to establish the cause, 'but so far what has been determined is that containers were stored in a corner of the port that likely contained chemicals which exploded.' She added: 'But until the fire is extinguished, it's hard to ascertain the cause.' Iran's National Iranian Oil Refining and Distribution Company said the explosion at the port was not related to the refineries, fuel tanks, or oil pipelines 'associated with the company in that area.' This came after Iranian official media reported that the blast occurred after a fuel tanker at the port 'exploded for unknown reasons.' The incident prompted Iranian authorities to declare a state of emergency in the city of Bandar Abbas to safeguard citizens amid a 'significant rise in air pollution.' The Ministry of Health has mobilized health teams and implemented emergency measures to protect public health. Citizens are advised to stay indoors, avoid outdoor activities, and keep windows closed, according to official Iranian media. A video distributed by the Mehr news agency showed surveillance footage of the moment of the explosion, which appears to have occurred in a warehouse at the port. Other footage showed helicopters dropping water at the site of the fire ignited by the explosion. Debris was spread over a wide area and many buildings at the port complex were badly damaged, according to state media. Windows within a radius of several kilometers were shattered, they said. Some reports said people were trapped in the wreckage of a building that was reduced to rubble. The region's governor, Mohammad Ashouri Taziani, said injured people were being transferred to Bandar Abbas medical centers. The port has been closed and maritime operations suspended, according to state media. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has ordered an investigation into the causes of the incident. He wrote on X that the interior minister had been sent to the region to 'examine the dimensions of the accident.' 'After receiving initial reports and analyzing the possible causes of the incident,' Pezeshkian emphasized the need to conduct 'a comprehensive assessment of the causes of the incident,' as soon as possible to prevent 'the recurrence of such incidents in the future.' State broadcaster IRIB said the explosion took place in the chemical and sulfur area of the port. A helicopter flies through black smoke engulfing the site of a port blast in Iran, on Saturday, which killed at least five people and injured more than 700 others. Mohammad Rasole Moradi/IRNA/AFP via Getty Images The incident has shocked the country and many were seen on Iran's state-run Press TV lining up at a health center to donate blood for the injured. Shahid Rajaee is a large facility for container shipments, covering 2,400 hectares (around 5,900 acres). It handles 70 million tons of cargo annually, including oil and general shipping. It has nearly 500,000 square meters (5.4 million square feet) of warehouses and 35 shipping berths.
Saudi Gazette
26-04-2025
- Politics
- Saudi Gazette
Saudi Arabia offers condolences to Iran following deadly Bandar Abbas port explosion
RIYADH/TEHRAN — The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed Saudi Arabia's sincere condolences and sympathy to Iran following an explosion at Shahid Rajaee Port in Bandar Abbas, which killed eight people and injured at least 750 others. The Kingdom extended its condolences to the families of the victims and wished the injured a speedy recovery. It also expressed readiness to provide any assistance requested by Iranian authorities in the aftermath of the tragedy. Iranian Interior Minister Eskander Momeni, speaking to state television from Bandar Abbas, confirmed that the death toll had risen from five to eight. He said about 750 people were injured, with 212 treated on an outpatient basis and the rest transferred to medical centers in Hormozgan and nearby provinces. Momeni added that firefighters were working to extinguish the fire, which remained the top priority after the completion of rescue operations. He said resources from other cities, including Tehran, had been dispatched to aid in containment efforts, and authorities expected the blaze to be controlled within hours. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian expressed sorrow over the incident in a statement on X and ordered a full appointed Momeni as his special representative to oversee the probe and ensure support for the Iran's Customs Administration suspended all export and transit shipments to Shahid Rajaee Customs at Bandar Abbas until further media reported that the fire broke out around 12 p.m. local time in the container dock area, likely fueled by the presence of flammable materials and soaring temperatures reaching 40 degrees Celsius. Witnesses said a minor fire quickly spread and triggered the National Iranian Oil Refining and Distribution Company stated that the explosion and fire were unrelated to refineries, storage tanks, or oil distribution Rajaee Port, a key strategic hub located about 15 kilometers southwest of Bandar Abbas, sits on the northern shore of the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most critical maritime passages. — SG with inputs from Agencies
Time of India
26-04-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Iran oil port explosion: Massive blast rocks Shahid Rajaee Port in Bandar Abbas
Iran oil port explosion shook Shahid Rajaee Port in southern Iran's Hormozgan Province on Saturday, leaving nearly 700 people dead or injured. The Iranian oil port explosion , which stunned the nation and raised alarm worldwide, has prompted a major investigation, though the exact cause remains unclear as of now. #Pahalgam Terrorist Attack India stares at a 'water bomb' threat as it freezes Indus Treaty India readies short, mid & long-term Indus River plans Shehbaz Sharif calls India's stand "worn-out narrative" Authorities have halted all operations at Shahid Rajaee Port, while emergency services raced against time to secure the area and rush the wounded to hospitals across Bandar Abbas. Meanwhile, the National Iranian Oil Refining and Distribution Company confirmed that its refineries, pipelines, and distribution centers in the region were unaffected and continue to function normally. Where is Shahid Rajaee Port located and why is it crucial for Iran's economy? Shahid Rajaee Port lies on the northern edge of the Strait of Hormuz, one of the most strategic waterways in the world, where 20% of global oil trade passes through daily. Specifically, it's positioned near the Khuran (Clarence) Strait, separating mainland Iran from Qeshm Island, and administratively, it belongs to Bandar Abbas County in Hormozgan Province. This bustling port is about eight kilometers west of Bandar Abbas city center, nestled between Shahid Bahonar Port to the east and the Iran Shipbuilding & Offshore Industries Complex to the west. Its prime spot close to the Persian Gulf's entrance makes it the country's biggest gateway for imports and exports. Beyond local significance, Shahid Rajaee sits on the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), linking the Indian Ocean and Persian Gulf to the Caspian Sea, Russia, and Northern Europe. Thanks to this position, it plays a major role in connecting Asia, Africa, and Europe, helping Iran maintain vital trade routes even under global sanctions. Live Events What makes the port's infrastructure so important after the Iran explosion? First opened during the Iran-Iraq War in 1985, Shahid Rajaee Port has expanded steadily to cover about 4,800 hectares today. Half of that area is still under expansion, aiming to create a massive port logistics city to drive re-exports and global trade. Right now, the port boasts 40 berths, including 10 container berths with depths of 13–17 meters, easily handling large Panamax ships of up to 18,400 TEUs and 185,000 DWT. To put it simply, it can manage some of the biggest vessels sailing the seas today. Some quick facts: 23 active gantry cranes 19 hectares of roofed warehouses 67 hectares of container yards A new Phase 3 expansion is underway to add 1,400 meters of wharves and increase capacity to 8.4 million TEUs. This Iranian oil port explosion not only disrupts Iran's busiest maritime hub but also shakes a place critical for its oil exports, steel, minerals, and petrochemical industries. The port even features dedicated oil and petrochemical berths and a massive 1.2 million cubic meter oil bunker. Iran had already been investing heavily in Shahid Rajaee's modernization, adding a bunkering terminal for marine fuel and planning a 50 million ton mechanized mineral terminal to keep pace with global demands. How big is Shahid Rajaee Port's role in Iran's trade and transit? Before Saturday's massive explosion in Iran, Shahid Rajaee Port handled an enormous slice of Iran's economy: 85–90% of all container traffic 55% of total trade 70% of all transit In the Iranian calendar year 2023–2024, the port processed over 75 million tons of freight — with 49 million tons being non-oil goods and 26 million tons being oil products. Recent figures show a whopping 89% increase in freight transit from 2023 to 2024, moving around 5.9 million tons of non-oil freight and 218,164 tons of oil freight. This growth helped position Iran as a vital bridge between Asia and Europe, despite heavy sanctions. Even globally, Shahid Rajaee Port isn't a small player — it ranks 44th among the world's 3,500 major ports based on its handling capacity, projected to rise to 100 million tons per year after ongoing expansions. Adding to its strength, the port has connections with 80 major international ports and 21 global shipping lines. Plus, Shahid Rajaee operates as a Special Economic Zone (SEZ), offering tax breaks and easier customs processes to attract foreign investment. FAQs: What caused the Iran oil port explosion at Shahid Rajaee Port? The cause of the Iran oil port explosion is still under investigation by authorities. Why is Shahid Rajaee Port important for Iran's economy? Shahid Rajaee Port handles 85–90% of Iran's container traffic and connects Iran to major global trade routes.
Irish Times
26-04-2025
- Politics
- Irish Times
Iran port explosion: At least four killed and 500 injured as authorities declare state of emergency
An immense blast in Iran's southern port of Shahid Rajaee has killed at least four people and wounded more than 500, according to state media, with an official suggesting the fire was caused by the explosion of chemical containers. A spokesman for Iran's crisis management body pointed to poor storage conditions of chemicals as the trigger for the port explosion. 'The cause of the explosions was the chemicals inside the containers,' Hossein Zafari, a crisis management spokesman, told Iran's ILNA news agency. He added that the port administration had previously been warned about the danger these chemicals posed. The Iranian government has not yet specified the exact cause of the explosion, though it suspected combustible chemicals to be behind the blast. The provincial attorney general had ordered a 'thorough and urgent' investigation into the circumstances of the explosion, which local officials said began in several containers in the port. READ MORE Shahid Rajaee is a large Iranian container facility that handles 80m tonnes of goods a year, including fuel and other combustible materials. It is part of the Bandar Abbas port, the country's largest. State media had previously quoted Iranian security officials as saying 'any speculation about the cause of the explosion is worthless'. Videos showed a huge billowing mushroom cloud, with the force of the blast destroying a nearby building and shattering windows. Injured people lay on the roadside as authorities declared a state of emergency at hospitals across Bandar Abbas to cope with the influx of wounded. Aerial and naval firefighting teams worked to extinguish the blast, with state media reporting officials expected the firefighting operation to be completed within an hour. Local media reported people trapped under the wreckage of a collapsed building. In the aftermath of the explosion, port activities were suspended and Iranian customs officials halted export and transit shipments to the port. The state-owned National Iranian Oil Refining and Distribution Company said that oil refineries, tankers and pipelines in the area continued to operate and were unaffected by the blast. The explosion occurred as Iran and the US met for the third round of nuclear talks in Oman on Saturday, aiming to achieve a deal on Iran's nuclear programme. The US and Israel view the prospect of Iran getting a nuclear weapon as an urgent threat. In 2020, the Shahid Rajaee container facility was hit with a complex cyberattack that jammed port logistics, which the Washington Post reported as being perpetrated by Israel in retaliation for an Iranian cyberattack. The cyberattack was one of a series of incidents that has affected Iranian critical infrastructure in recent years. The government has blamed some of the incidents, such as a 2024 coal mine blast in southern Iran which killed 31 people, on negligence. Tehran has accused Israel of being behind other incidents, such as an attack on Iranian gas pipelines last year. The Israeli government made no comment on Saturday's explosions in Iran. Reuters contributed to this report. – Guardian/Reuters
Saba Yemen
26-04-2025
- General
- Saba Yemen
At least 281 injured in explosion at Iran's Shahid Rajaee Port
Tehran – Saba: Following the massive explosion at Shahid Rajaee Port in Bandar Abbas, Babak Yektaparast, spokesperson for Iran's Emergency Management Organization, stated that emergency forces were quickly mobilized and have so far transported 281 injured individuals to hospitals. Yektaparast told the official Iranian news agency IRNA on Saturday, "So far, 15 ambulances and four ambulance buses have been dispatched to the scene to transfer the wounded." Referring to measures taken to address the potential scale of the incident, he added, "The emergency department in Shiraz is also on high alert, and necessary arrangements have been made to receive possible casualties." He continued, "Aerial emergency services in Jahrom and Lar are also on maximum readiness, and an emergency rescue helicopter has been deployed from Laristan to assist those injured in the incident." The massive explosion occurred on Saturday afternoon, April 26, in the Shahid Rajaee Port area west of Bandar Abbas. The cause of the explosion has not yet been determined, and rescue teams were sent to the scene to extinguish the fire and assist potential victims. The National Iranian Oil Refining and Distribution Company stated that the explosion was unrelated to refineries, fuel storage tanks, or oil pipelines affiliated with the company in the area. Whatsapp Telegram Email Print more of (International)
