BANDAR ABBAS: A powerful explosion rocked the Shahid Rajaee Port in the southern Iranian city of Bandar Abbas on Saturday morning, injuring at least 195 people.
The blast occurred inside an administrative building at the port, and people heard the explosion several kilometers away. The force of the blast shattered the windows of nearby buildings.
Eyewitnesses said the explosion was so intense that it spread panic across the surrounding areas, causing people to rush out of their homes and offices. Firefighters and rescue teams immediately reached the site and began emergency operations.
Rescue workers are transporting the injured to various hospitals in Bandar Abbas, where authorities have declared a state of emergency.
The head of the Crisis Management Cell of Hormozgan Province stated that the explosion was extraordinarily powerful, but investigators have yet to determine the exact cause. Authorities have launched investigations, considering both sabotage and technical malfunction as possible causes.
Port authorities have temporarily closed some sections of the harbor to prevent further damage and allow rescue operations to proceed smoothly.
Official sources reported that several of the injured remain in critical condition, raising fears that the death toll may rise.
Officials from the Iranian Ministry of Interior and the military have also traveled to Bandar Abbas to assess the situation. Authorities have urged the public to avoid spreading rumors and rely only on information from official sources.
