Powerful explosion at Iran port kills at least 14 people and injures 750
A powerful explosion at Iran’s Shahid Rajaee port in Bandar Abbas on April 26, 2025, killed at least 14 people and injured approximately 750 others. The blast sent a massive plume of dark gray smoke into the air and shattered windows miles away, with tremors felt up to 50 kilometers (31 miles) from the site.
A powerful explosion struck the Shahid Rajaei port near Bandar Abbas in southern Iran on Saturday, April 26, 2025. The blast killed at least 14 people and injured approximately 750 others, making it one of the deadliest industrial accidents in Iran in recent years.
Improperly stored chemicals in containers are suspected to have triggered the explosion, though investigations remain ongoing. Unverified reports suggested the containers held sodium perchlorate rocket fuel shipped from China, potentially linked to missile stockpiles.
Firefighters struggled against strong winds to control the blaze, with helicopters deployed to drop water on the flames. Six people remain missing.
Schools and offices within 23 kilometers (14 miles) were closed due to toxic air pollution. No damage to oil infrastructure was reported.
The explosion coincided with nuclear talks between Iran and the U.S. in Oman, though no direct link was established. Officials have not attributed the blast to sabotage.
While most reports cite 14 deaths and around 750 injuries, some early accounts mentioned higher fatality figures, which were later revised downward. Iranian state media confirmed the lower death toll.
