According to Iranian media reports on the 28th, the explosion incident in Shahid Rajaee Port in Hormozgan Province, southern Iran, on the 26th has resulted in 70 deaths.
Agence France-Presse reported that the Iranian Fars News Agency quoted the head of the Hormozgan Province Crisis Management Department, Mahdada Hassanzadeh, saying that the explosion and the ensuing fire have caused 70 deaths. Additionally, 120 injured individuals are receiving treatment in hospitals, while another 1,072 people have been discharged.
The Iranian Islamic Republic News Agency also quoted Hassanzadeh on the same day, stating that rescue operations are still ongoing, the fire has been brought under control, and measures have been taken to relocate and reorganize the containers. Hassanzadeh noted that Shahid Rajaee Port covers a total area of 2,400 hectares, with the explosion and fire affecting about 15 hectares. Fully stabilizing the situation may take several days or even weeks.
Iranian Interior Minister Iskander Mohseni said on the 28th that the explosion was caused by 'negligence' and failure to comply with safety regulations.
Shahid Rajaee Port is a major commercial port in Iran, located near the Strait of Hormuz, mainly handling container business and equipped with storage tanks and other petrochemical facilities. It is reported that the port covers about 2,400 hectares, with an annual cargo throughput capacity of 70 million tons. The port is comprised of 23 docks, with only one dock severely damaged by the explosion. The Iranian National Petroleum Products Refining and Distribution Company said that oil facilities near the port were not affected by the explosion.