According to the latest data from the Iranian authorities, 25 people have already died in the powerful explosion that shook the Iranian port of “Shahid Rajai“ yesterday near the southern Iranian city of Bandar Abbas, on the Strait of Hormuz, through which one fifth of the world's oil production passes, world agencies reported. The injured are 800, according to the latest data.
The President of Iran, Masoud Pezeshkian, ordered an investigation into the causes of the tragedy.
A strong fire broke out at the port after the explosion, which has not yet been extinguished.
The explosion reverberated within a radius of tens of kilometers yesterday at around 12 p.m. local time (8 a.m. GMT). The explosion occurred on one of the piers of the port, through which 85 percent of Iran's goods pass.
Customs authorities said that the blast may have been caused by a fire that broke out in a warehouse storing hazardous materials and chemicals.
According to a source connected to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, quoted by the “New York Times“, the explosion was caused by sodium perchlorate, a substance that is part of solid rocket fuel.
Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni said that reinforcements from other regions of the country were expected in the area of the incident to help put out the fire that broke out in the explosion.
Local hospitals appealed for blood donations for the injured.
It is not known how many workers and truck drivers were at the port at the time of the explosion. Schools in the area will remain closed today, local media reported.
Iran's neighbors - Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates - expressed their condolences.
Yesterday's explosion occurred at a time when indirect talks were being held in Oman between Iran and the United States over Iran's nuclear program. The latest round ended yesterday evening and the participants described it as constructive.