BANDAR ABBAS,⁣ Iran – A massive explosion ripped through the port of Bandar Abbas in southern Iran, leaving at least 28 people dead and 800 injured, according to state media reports. The incident occurred at the Shahid Rajaee port complex,‍ a key hub for maritime transport.

Videos geolocated by news outlets showed a towering plume of thick, gray smoke billowing from the shahid Rajaee section of the port.⁢ Government officials have indicated the explosion likely involved stored⁢ chemicals,though the precise cause remains under investigation.

Iran’s Interior Minister,Eskandar Momeni,stated that six individuals are still missing. Firefighters are battling the blaze, facing challenges due to strong winds, Iranian media reported.

fatemeh Mohajarani, a government spokeswoman,‍ said determining the cause of the explosion will ‍take time.”Initial findings suggest that containers stored in one area of the‍ port,likely containing chemical substances,were the source of the ⁢explosion,” she stated.”However, a definitive determination is impossible until the fire is entirely extinguished.”

The National Petroleum⁢ Refining and Distribution Company of Iran issued a statement clarifying that the explosion was not linked to any refineries, fuel tanks, ⁢or affiliated companies in the area. This statement followed earlier reports in Iranian official media suggesting a fuel tank ship had exploded for unknown reasons.

In response to⁤ the disaster,⁢ Iranian authorities declared‍ a state of emergency in Bandar Abbas to safeguard residents from a “significant increase in air pollution.”

The Ministry of Health has mobilized emergency response teams and implemented measures to protect public health. Residents are urged⁣ to stay‍ indoors, avoid outdoor activities, and keep windows closed, according to official media reports.

Footage released by the ⁢Mehr news agency showed⁣ security camera images of⁣ the explosion, which appeared to originate in a port warehouse. Additional images depicted helicopters dropping water on the fire.

Debris from the explosion was scattered across a wide area, and numerous buildings within the port complex sustained severe damage, state ‍media reported. Windows were shattered within a radius of several kilometers.

Reports indicate that some individuals may be trapped in the wreckage of a building that was reduced to rubble.

Mohammad Ashouri Taziani, the regional governor, reported that the injured are being transported to medical facilities in Bandar Abbas. The port has been closed, and⁤ maritime operations have been suspended, according to⁣ state media.

Iranian President Masoud Fishshkian has ordered ⁢a thorough investigation into the cause of the incident. In a post on X, he stated that the Interior Minister had been dispatched to the region to “assess the magnitude of the accident.”

Following initial reports and a preliminary analysis of potential causes, Fishshkian emphasized the urgency of conducting a extensive evaluation⁤ to prevent similar incidents in the future.

The Irib state station reported that the explosion occurred in the chemical and sulfur‍ storage area of the port.

The incident has sent shockwaves through the country, according to Iran’s Press ⁤TV.

Shahid⁣ Rajae is a major container transport facility, spanning 2,400 hectares (approximately 5,900 acres). It handles 70 million tons of cargo annually, including oil and general maritime transport. The ‍port features nearly 500,000 ⁣square meters (5.4 million square feet) of warehouse space and 35 berths.