The toll from a massive explosion at Iran’s Shahid Rajaee Port has climbed dramatically, with five martyrs more than 500 people now reported injured as rescue operations continue, according to Iranian state television. The devastating blast, which triggered a major fire, rocked the port facility in Bandar Abbas, located over 1,000 kilometers south of Tehran.
Ismail Malekizadeh, an official with the Ports and Maritime Administration of Hormozgan Province, confirmed that firefighters were battling to bring the flames under control following the explosion in a section of the port’s dock. While initial reports put the number of injured at around 50, a spokesman for Iran’s Emergency Management Authority later announced that approximately 115 people had been hospitalized due to the incident.
A video shows the moment the violent explosion occurred at the Port of Shahid Rajaee in southern Iran.
At least 47 people have been injured in an initial toll from the explosion and 10 ambulance crews have been dispatched to the site. pic.twitter.com/uKEftLbnTN
— The Cradle (@TheCradleMedia) April 26, 2025
The sheer intensity of the explosion resulted in the destruction of nearby buildings and vehicles, though the precise cause remains unknown at this time. The National Iranian Oil Refining and Distribution Company swiftly issued a statement clarifying that the explosion did not impact any of its energy facilities, refineries, fuel tanks, distribution complexes, or oil pipelines in the area, and that all of its operations in Bandar Abbas were continuing uninterrupted.
According to this announcement, all oil companies operating in the area, including firefighting and rescue equipment and supplies, are on standby to provide their services, according to the Ports and Maritime Organization.
Shahid Rajaee Port is the largest and most advanced container port in Iran, with 12 container berths, 30 cranes, and advanced equipment. It plays a pivotal role in the country’s maritime economy.
Rescue efforts are ongoing, and authorities have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the explosion. The full extent of the damage and the final toll of those injured remain to be seen as the situation continues to unfold at Iran’s largest and most advanced container port.
Source: Iranian and Israeli media (edited and translated by Al-Manar English website)
