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Iran explosion: Deaths reported in major blast at Shahid Rajee port Iran explosion: Deaths reported in major blast at Shahid Rajee port
(about 1 hour later)
The explosion on Saturday took place at a port area in the southern city of Bandar AbbasThe explosion on Saturday took place at a port area in the southern city of Bandar Abbas
At least four people have been killed and 500 more injured in a massive explosion in the southern Iranian city of Bandar Abbas, state media is reporting. At least four people have been killed and 500 more injured in a massive explosion at a port near the southern Iranian city of Bandar Abbas, state media is reporting.
The blast took place at the Shahid Rajaee port on Saturday morning, blowing out the windows of nearby office buildings and causing the roof of at least one building to collapse.The blast took place at the Shahid Rajaee port on Saturday morning, blowing out the windows of nearby office buildings and causing the roof of at least one building to collapse.
Footage showed people fleeing from the wharves at the time of the explosion and others lying wounded on the street. There are also reports of people being trapped under collapsed walls.Footage showed people fleeing from the wharves at the time of the explosion and others lying wounded on the street. There are also reports of people being trapped under collapsed walls.
A fire is still raging at the site and pictures show huge clouds of black smoke billowing over the wharfs. A fire is still raging at the container terminal site and pictures show huge clouds of black smoke billowing over the wharfs.
Workers were rushing to evacuate and transfer the injured to nearby hospitals, authorities said. Authorities dispatched helicopter crews to try and extinguish the flames, while the injured were being rushed by medics to nearby hospitals, authorities said.
Some workers are "still trapped under collapsed roofs and we are trying to rescue them", one official has told local media according to BBC Persian. Emergency crew are rushing to attend to the injured
A motorist with a shattered windshield in traffic streaming away from the port area Some workers are "still trapped under collapsed roofs and "we are trying to rescue them", one official told local media according to BBC Persian.
Footage shared online shows people bracing at the point of explosion and then fleeing the area.Footage shared online shows people bracing at the point of explosion and then fleeing the area.
According to reports, witnesses say the explosion occurred after a small fire on the wharf spread to open containers storing "flammable materials" and most likely, chemicals. People rushing away from the Shahid Rajaee port after the explosion
"The fire spread quickly and caused an explosion," one witness told local media. According to reports, witnesses say the explosion occurred after a fire broke out and spread to unsealed containers storing "flammable materials", most probably, chemicals.
"The source of this incident was the explosion of several containers stored in the Shahid Rajaee Port wharf area," a crisis management official said, according to BBC Persian. "The source of this incident was the explosion of several containers stored in the Shahid Rajaee Port wharf area," a crisis management official in the region said.
Residents also reported hearing the explosion from several kilometres away. One analyst firm said it believed the affected containers had contained solid fuel for Iranian missiles.
Shahid Rajaee is the country's largest commercial port, located in the Hormozgan province on Iran's southern coast. The fire had been the result of "improper handling of a shipment of solid fuel intended for use in Iranian ballistic missiles," according to Ambrey Intelligence, a global maritime risk firm.
The firm said it had found 12 merchant vessels within five nautical miles of the explosion when the incident occurred, seven of which had been berthed at the port at the time.
A motorist with a shattered windshield in traffic streaming away from the port area
Shahid Rajaee is Iran's largest commercial port, located on Iran's southern coast close to the Strait of Hormuz, a major shipping channel for oil cargo.
It is located about 20km (12 miles) west of Bandar Abbas, the capital of the Hormozgan province.
Iran's national oil production company said the explosion at the port had "no connection" to the country's oil refineries, fuel tanks and pipelines, local media reported.
The explosion was so large residents reported hearing and feeling the explosion from 50km (31 miles) away.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has expressed his "deep regret and sympathy" for victims and has announced a government investigation.
Iranian state TV reporting Saturday's huge blast at the Shahid Rajaee Port in the country's south.Iranian state TV reporting Saturday's huge blast at the Shahid Rajaee Port in the country's south.