Death Troll rises after the explosion of the commercial port in Iran

(Bloomberg) -The toll due to deaths and injuries continued to climb after a powerful explosion on Saturday engulfed a commercial port in the South Hormozgan Province in Iran on the street of Hormuz, the reports said. At least 14 people were killed and more than 750 people were injured, said Agence France-Presse, Minister Momeni. The explosion, which was felt in nearby cities, was caused by an explosion of various containers at Shahid Rajaee port in the city of Bandar Abbas, AFP said, citing local media. The Associated Press mentions a possible link to a recent shipping of rocket fuel from China intended to supplement Iran’s rocket supplies, which was exhausted by the country’s attacks on Israel over the course of his war with Hamas in Gaza. Initial reports suggested that the incident may be linked to poor safety standards, with flammable materials allegedly stored near the containers. The semi-official news agency Tasnim said the explosion is caused by a fuel tank that exploded without providing further details. The National Iranian Oil Fanny and Distribution Co. said in a statement that the explosion does not stem from oil facilities or operations. The explosion occurred when US and Iranian officials in Muscat, south of the Gulf of Oman, met for a third round of talks on Tehran’s nuclear program under the mediation of Oman. It is reminiscent of memories of a deadly explosion five years ago in the port of Beirut caused by a shop with a highly flammable ammonium nitrate. Shahid Rajaee, one of the largest commercial ports in the region, is an important pivot for trade in Iran and has handled more than half of the country’s exports and imports sent by sea, according to the state -owned news agency Islamic Republic. It also holds strategic importance in the street of Hormuz, an important waterway for about 26% of the global oil trade. This is related to Iran’s national rail and road networks, which link maritime deals with the country’s industrial centers and serve as a transport route for export through Iran’s borders. Rescue services rushed to scenes of devastation as operations were suspended in the harbor, the state TV said. Iranian media has released a closed camera footage that takes up the moment of the explosion around the local time in the afternoon, in which a large warehouse crashes and sends a blanket of dust. Clippings showed that the area was engulfed in flames and thick black smoke for a few hours after the explosion. Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian ordered an investigation into the case, as officials called on the public to donate blood to local hospitals in response to the growing number of casualties. The country’s domestic and road ministers flew to Bandar Abbas to oversee the investigation. Officials said the extinguishing of the flames could take a long time without offering any estimate. -With help from Valentine Baldassari. (Updates with the latest death and injured figures in the second paragraph.) More stories like these are available on Bloomberg.com © 2025 Bloomberg LP first published: 27 Apr 2025, 05:58 am Ist