Massive Explosion Rocks Iranian Port, Leaving Four Dead and Over 500 Injured

A massive explosion at the Shahid Rajaee port complex in Bandar Abbas, southwestern Iran, has left four people dead and more than 500 injured, according to Iranian officials and emergency services.

The blast sent thick, gray smoke billowing into the sky, as captured in videos verified by CNN. Authorities believe the explosion was likely caused by chemicals stored at the port.

Iran’s emergency services chief confirmed four fatalities, while an earlier statement noted at least 516 people had sustained injuries. Many of the wounded were rushed to medical centers across Bandar Abbas, said regional governor Mohammad Ashouri Taziani.

Footage released by the Mehr news agency shows the moment of the explosion, which appeared to erupt from a warehouse. Other videos captured helicopters dousing the area to contain the fire that followed.

The explosion caused significant destruction: debris littered the site, nearby buildings suffered heavy damage, and windows shattered kilometers away from the blast zone. Some reports suggest people may still be trapped under the rubble of collapsed structures.

In response, the port has been closed and all maritime operations suspended as authorities work to secure the area and tend to the injured.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has ordered a full investigation. On social media platform X, he announced that the country’s interior minister had been dispatched to Bandar Abbas to oversee the situation and assess the damage.

State media reported that the explosion occurred in the port’s chemical and sulfur storage section. Government spokeswoman Fatemeh Mohajerani noted that while early signs point to chemical containers as the cause, a full assessment will only be possible once the fire is fully extinguished.

Shahid Rajaee port is one of Iran’s largest shipping hubs, sprawling over 2,400 hectares (around 5,900 acres). Handling 70 million tons of cargo each year, the port also houses nearly half a million square meters of warehouse space and operates 35 shipping berths. The explosion marks a major disruption for the facility and the wider region.

As rescue and recovery efforts continue, the cause behind this devastating incident remains under investigation.