Hundreds of injured by large explosion in Iranian port

At least 516 people were injured in a severe explosion and the fire that followed in an Iranian port. According to international press agencies, it is about the Rajaei-Haven, just outside the port city of Bandar Abbas. On images You can see how a large plume of smoke rises above the port, and how even miles away the windows jumped out of buildings. It is still unclear whether there were port employees on the spot and whether there were fatal victims.

The cause of the explosion is still unknown. According to the Iranian state channel, various containers exploded in the port. The government has conducted an investigation.

There are more often explosions in Iran, although rarely of this size. For example, often with outdated oil installations, although according to the state channel that is not the case now. Because international sanctions on land make it difficult to obtain new materials, there is overdue maintenance with many oil installations. But no energy infrastructure would have been involved in this explosion.

The Rajaei-Haven is the largest commercial port in Iran, according to Staatspersbureau Irna. Containers transport eighty million tons of products every year, and more than 70 percent of Iranian goods go through this port. The harbor is on the street of Hormuz, through Die Zeestraat one fifth of all traded oil passes worldwide.

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