Massive explosion rocks Bandar Abbas Port in southern Iran, dozens injured

New Delhi, Apr 26: A massive explosion at Shahid Rajaee Port near Bandar Abbas, southern Iran, has left at least 80 people injured, according to news agencies and local officials. The cause of the blast remains unclear, with conflicting reports emerging.

The explosion occurred on Saturday at the Sina container yard, part of the Ports and Maritime Organisation, Iran’s customs authority said in a statement, as reported by Al Jazeera. Videos circulating on social media showed a towering plume of black smoke and a fireball rising into the sky, with widespread damage to nearby buildings and vehicles.

Mehrdad Hassanzadeh, director of Hormozgan province’s crisis management organization, said the injured had been transferred to medical facilities for treatment. Footage from the scene showed emergency crews tending to victims and assessing the destruction.

Earlier, officials of Maritime Administration, as reported by media confirmed the explosion took place near the Shahid Rajaee port dock, one of Iran's busiest maritime hubs. Authorities have yet to officially determine the cause of the incident.