Explosion at Iran’s Shahid Rajaei Port Injures 1,200 People

On April 28, local time, a spokesman for the Iranian Red Crescent Society informed the media that the number of people injured in the serious explosion that occurred recently at Shahid Rajaee Port in Bandar Abbas has risen to 1,200 people. This figure is a significant increase from the previously announced data, showing the severity of the accident and the difficulty of the rescue.

At present, the Iranian government has launched an emergency response mechanism, and a large number of medical personnel and rescue forces are on the scene to carry out treatment and cleanup work. The cause of the accident is under investigation.

Accident: Huge Explosion Causes Chaos

According to Iranian state television (IRIB) and several local media reports, the explosion occurred between the late night of April 27 and the early morning of April 28 in the Shahid Rajaie port area of Bandar Abbas, a strategic port city in southern Iran.

Eyewitnesses said that there were many loud explosions in the port area, accompanied by flames and smoke for several kilometers. Some of the facilities around the port area were severely damaged, and debris was scattered over a wide area, throwing the port operation area into chaos. After the explosion, a large number of port workers, truck drivers, and nearby residents fled the scene in a hurry, and hundreds of people suffered minor and serious injuries. Initial reports indicate that the injured were mainly port workers and nearby residents.

Rescue Operations and Emergency Response

After the accident, the Iranian Red Crescent Society, local fire departments, and the Ministry of Health jointly formed a rescue and emergency response team and rushed to the scene overnight to carry out rescue operations. So far, more than 200 ambulances, 15 medical rescue teams, and several firefighting and rescue forces have been mobilized to participate in the operation. A spokesman for the Iranian Red Crescent Society said on the same day that 1,200 people have been confirmed injured, some of whom are in serious condition and are being treated in hospitals.“Many of the injured are suffering from broken bones, burns, and suffocation problems caused by the blast shockwave.” The spokesman added that all major medical institutions around Bandar Abbas are currently on the highest alert, freeing up beds to be dedicated to the victims of the blast. Meanwhile, the military has set up a cordon around the port area to prevent secondary disasters.

Preliminary Investigation into the Cause of the Explosion

So far, the Iranian government has not announced the specific cause of the explosion, but preliminary investigations indicate that the explosion is likely to originate from a container storage area of a port or a dangerous goods warehouse fire.

Informed sources revealed that Shahid Rajaie port, as one of Iran’s largest and busiest container ports, has long been storing a large number of flammable and explosive substances, including chemicals, fuel oil, and industrial gases. Due to uneven management standards, there are certain safety risks. The local prosecutor’s office has intervened in the investigation and has said it cannot rule out the possibility that human negligence, storage violations, or security management loopholes may have contributed to the accident. Iran’s Interior Ministry has also announced that it will launch a month-long safety audit of all ports in the country to prevent similar incidents from happening again.

Importance of Shahid Rajaei Port

Located on the northern shore of the Strait of Hormuz in southern Iran, Shahid Rajaei Port is Iran’s largest and most important container handling center, responsible for the import and export of about 50% of the country’s internationally traded goods. As one of the lifebloods of Iran’s economy, the port not only connects to the important shipping lanes of the Persian Gulf, but also serves as an important transit hub for the flow of goods from Central and West Asia.

The explosion paralyzed some of the port’s operational facilities and is expected to have a large impact on Iran’s foreign trade, transportation, and economic activities in the short term. According to the news released by the Port Authority, the main cargo operations at the port have been suspended, and some ships have been forced to delay port calls or move to alternative ports.

Reactions

• The Iranian presidential administration has issued a statement expressing great concern over the accident and instructing all relevant departments to make every effort to rescue and investigate the cause.
• The Iranian Red Crescent Society has called on all sectors of society to donate blood and medical supplies to support relief efforts in the affected areas.
• The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) issued a briefing note expressing concern over the accident and willingness to provide emergency humanitarian assistance as requested by the Iranian government.
• Neighboring countries such as Kuwait and the UAE also expressed their condolences and willingness to assist in the relief efforts.

Review of Similar Accidents

Iran has witnessed several major accidents caused by the mismanagement of dangerous goods in recent years:

• In 2016, an oil and gas field explosion in Iran’s southwestern Avash region killed more than 20 people.
• In 2020, an explosion at the Parchin military facility near Tehran was the cause of which also involved the mismanagement of hazardous materials.
• In 2021, a small chemical explosion near the port of Bandar Abbas triggered a regional fire, but the damage was minor at the time.

The Shahid Rajaie port explosion was far larger than previous ones, both in terms of scale and human casualties, and exposed serious problems in infrastructure safety management.

Conclusion

As the investigation deepens and the number of injuries continues to be updated, the Shahid Rajaie port explosion has undoubtedly become one of the worst industrial accidents in the world in 2025. It has not only brought huge human casualties and economic losses, but also raised new warnings about the safety of Iran’s infrastructure. The test for the Iranian government is not only how to treat the injured and repair the port promptly, but more importantly, how to overhaul the hazardous materials management system in the future to prevent the tragedy from happening again.