Several killed, more than 500 injured in massive blast in Iranian port city

[muriel_volestrangler]

Source: France24

A massive explosion and fire at a port in southern Iran has killed four people, authorities said Saturday.
...
At least 516 others have been injured in the blast at the Shahid Rajaei port just outside of Bandar Abbas, a major facility for container shipments for the Islamic Republic that handles some 80 million tons (72.5 million metric tons) of goods a year.
...
Authorities offered no cause for the explosion hours later, though videos suggested whatever ignited at the port was highly combustible.

Industrial accidents happen in Iran, particularly at its aging oil facilities that struggle for access to parts under international sanctions. But Iranian state TV specifically ruled out any energy infrastructure as causing or being damaged in the blast.



Read more: https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20250426-%F0%9F%94%B4-at-least-281-injured-in-explosion-at-port-in-iran-s-bandar-abbas-state-media-says

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According to reports, witnesses say the explosion occurred after a fire broke out and spread to unsealed containers storing "flammable materials", most probably, chemicals.

"The source of this incident was the explosion of several containers stored in the Shahid Rajaee Port wharf area," a crisis management official in the region said.

One analyst firm said it believed the affected containers had contained solid fuel for Iranian missiles.

The fire had been the result of "improper handling of a shipment of solid fuel intended for use in Iranian ballistic missiles," according to Ambrey Intelligence, a global maritime risk firm.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx251yyvwr3o

[marble falls]

1. Solid fuel for rockets? I wonder if there was a third party involved? Couldn't be the US ...

... 'cause Hegseth'd have leaked the battle plan before hand on Signal.

[chowder66]

2. This happens too much there. I feel awful for those that lost loved ones and the injured.

[muriel_volestrangler]

3. Mourning turns to anger in Iran after massive port explosion kills 40

A day later, fires are still blazing as a thick black cloud of toxic chemicals hangs over the surrounding area.

People in nearby towns and cities have been told by the health ministry to stay indoors "until further notice" and wear more protective clothes.
...
Ambrey Intelligence, a private maritime risk consultancy, said it believed that intense fires that could be seen spreading between containers before the explosion were a result of "improper handling of a shipment of solid fuel intended for use in Iranian ballistic missiles".

The firm said it believed the affected containers had contained solid fuel destined for ballistic missiles, and was aware that an Iran-flagged ship "discharged a shipment of sodium perchlorate rocket fuel at the port in March 2025".

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0782l4yx78o

[electric_blue68]

4. Yikes. Strength to the injured, and grieving.

[MarineCombatEngineer]

5. This could very well be an accident,

anyone remember the PEPCON explosion in Henderson, NV. on May 04, 1988?

Same exact scenario, small fire which spread to the Ammonium perchlorate and exploded with such a force that it shattered windows in the Las Vegas Valley.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PEPCON_disaster.

On May 4, 1988, a fire followed by several explosions occurred at the Pacific Engineering and Production Company of Nevada (PEPCON) chemical plant in Henderson, Nevada. The disaster caused two fatalities, 372 injuries, and an estimated $100 million of damage. A large portion of the Las Vegas Valley within a 10-mile (16 km) radius of the plant was affected and several agencies activated disaster plans

Maybe sabotage was involved or not, but this is eerily similar to the PEPCON disaster.

[electric_blue68]

6. Woah! That's terrifying!

Hadn't heard of it.

[MarineCombatEngineer]

7. I had a friend of mine who lived about 12-15 miles from ground zero

and it broke out his windows facing towards the explosion, at that time, Reagan was Pres. at the height of the cold war and he was sure the button had been pushed.

[electric_blue68]

8. Oh, shit! Unfortunately, That makes horiffic sense!

Lemme tell ya....
As a 7 yr old, we lived on the 6th floor near the top of a hill near NYC's Hudson River which faces NJ.

At night on occasion we'd hear the distant sirens calling for volunteers fire fighters over there. The sirens reminded me of our monthly Air Raid Sirens tests.

I'd lie there at night, and wonder whether soon the sirens would start wailing here...
soon...
The Bomb?

(ah, the "joys" of living in target city #2: NYC )
[in general, it's wonderful, though!]

One other thing (yrs later)...
I was 2 - 3 blocks away from a Major East - West street. Suddenly there was a
BOOM!!!!
Well... I was jolted, and wow did my ears hurt! One hurt for like 2-3 days.

Never heard, read, or saw anything about it! Surely the residents, shop owners, other workers, and tourusts right on that sreet... were way more affected than me!

It stuck with me, and X yrs later I made a drawing of my reaction.