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Iran explosion: Deaths reported in major blast at Shahid Rajee port Iran explosion: Hundreds injured and deaths reported in massive blast at key port
(about 2 hours later)
The explosion on Saturday took place at a port area in the southern city of Bandar Abbas Moment driver sees huge explosion rip through Iran port
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. At least four people have been killed and 500 injured in a massive explosion at one of Iran's key ports, 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 suspected chemical blast took place at Shahid Rajaee, the country's largest commercial port, near the southern city of Bandar Abbas on Saturday morning.
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. The explosion blew out windows and roofs of nearby buildings and destroyed cars. Residents reported feeling the impact of the blast up to 50km (31 miles) away.
A fire is still raging at the container terminal site and pictures show huge clouds of black smoke billowing over the wharfs. Videos online show a fire growing into a huge inferno before the explosion, with people subsequently fleeing the blast and others lying wounded on the roads, surrounded by smoking debris.
Authorities dispatched helicopter crews to try and extinguish the flames, while the injured were being rushed by medics to nearby hospitals, authorities said. On Saturday afternoon, fires were still raging at the wharfs as thick columns of thick, black smoke filled the air.
Emergency crew are rushing to attend to the injured Authorities had dispatched helicopter crews to try and douse the flames, while medical crews rushed to transport the injured to hospitals.
Some workers are "still trapped under collapsed roofs and "we are trying to rescue them", one official told local media according to BBC Persian. Some workers were "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. Pictures also showed survivors on roads littered with twisted metal scraps and rubble.
People rushing away from the Shahid Rajaee port after the explosion Emergency crew rushed to attend to the injured
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 Shahid Rajaee port is Iran's largest and most advanced terminal, through which much of the country's commercial shipping transits.
"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. The strategic site is located on the Strait of Hormuz, a major shipping channel for oil cargo.
One analyst firm said it believed the affected containers had contained solid fuel for Iranian missiles. Shahid Rajaee is also about 20km (12 miles) west of Bandar Abbas, Iran's major port city on its south coast and home to the Iranian Navy's main base.
Highways were littered with debris and rubble after the explosion
According to state media reports, witnesses say the explosion occurred after a fire broke out and spread to unsealed containers storing "flammable materials" - most probably chemical materials.
"The source of this incident was the explosion of several containers stored in the Shahid Rajaee Port wharf area," a local crisis management official was quoted as saying.
Customs officials later released a statement reported by Iranian state TV saying the explosion had probably resulted from a fire that had broken out in a hazmat and chemical materials storage depot.
One analyst firm said it believed the affected containers had contained solid fuel for ballistic missiles.
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 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. The firm said it had identified 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 A motorist with a shattered windshield in traffic streaming away from Shahid Rajaee
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.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. He has announced a government investigation and sent the interior minister to the region to lead it.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has expressed his "deep regret and sympathy" for victims and has announced a government investigation. Saturday's explosion took place as Iranian and US officials met in Oman for a third round of talks on Iran's nuclear programme.
Iranian state TV reporting Saturday's huge blast at the Shahid Rajaee Port in the country's south. Negotiations have been under way for several weeks as the US government under President Trump has sought to strike a deal that prevents Iran from developing its programme in return for relief from economic sanctions.
What is Iran's nuclear programme and what does the US want?
Iranian state TV reporting Saturday's huge blast