THE death toll from the explosion at Shahid Rajaee Port in southern Iran has risen to 14, with at least 750 others injured, officials confirmed on Sunday.
Interior Minister Eskander Momeni, speaking to the state broadcaster from Bandar Abbas, said the fatalities increased from eight to 14.
He noted that 200 of the injured have been discharged, while 300 remain hospitalised, Anadolu Ajansi (AA) reported.
Momeni said the fire had been largely contained from spreading to other areas through separation measures, with assistance from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and resources from neighbouring provinces.
He stressed that port and customs operational systems had not suffered serious damage, allowing the resumption of loading, cargo clearance, and customs activities.
Firefighters were continuing efforts to fully extinguish the blaze, with Momeni stating that containing the fire remained the main priority following rescue operations.
Additional support from other cities, including Tehran, had been deployed to Bandar Abbas, and authorities expected the situation to be brought under control within hours.
Earlier, President Masoud Pezeshkian expressed sorrow and sympathy with the victims in a post on X, ordering a full investigation into the incident.
He assigned Momeni as his special representative to oversee the response and ensure coordination on the ground.
Meanwhile, Iran’s Customs Administration directed all customs offices to suspend the dispatch of export and transit shipments destined for Shahid Rajaee Customs until further notice.
The explosion occurred around noon local time (08.30 GMT) at the port's container dock area.
Local reports indicated that a minor fire escalated into a major blast, attributed to high temperatures reaching 40 degrees Celsius and the presence of flammable materials.
Located about 15 kilometres southwest of Bandar Abbas, Shahid Rajaee Port is a key facility on the northern shore of the Strait of Hormuz. – April 27, 2025
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