At least 516 people were injured following a powerful explosion in the southern Iranian port city of Bandar Abbas on Saturday, according to Iranian state television.
The blast occurred at the Sina container terminal, which is operated by Iran’s Ports and Maritime Organization, officials confirmed.
Emergency services and first responders are on-site, with the number of casualties continuing to rise as recovery operations progress. Authorities have not yet disclosed the cause of the explosion.
Mehrdad Hasanzadeh, Iran’s disaster management official, told state television that the explosion originated from containers at the city’s Rajaei Port.
Footage circulating on social media showed a large black smoke plume rising into the sky, along with significant damage to nearby buildings and vehicles. Several bystanders were seen assisting the injured and assessing property damage.
Rajaei Port is primarily a major hub for container traffic, but it also houses oil tanks and petrochemical facilities. It is located about 1,050 kilometers southeast of Tehran, near the Strait of Hormuz — a vital waterway through which about 20% of the world’s traded oil passes.
In May 2020, Israel was accused of carrying out a major cyberattack on the same port, causing transport disruptions for several days after the port’s computer systems were disabled.
