A massive explosion tore through Shahid Rajaee, Iran’s largest commercial port, on Saturday, triggering a major blaze that has so far killed 14 people and injured 750 others, authorities confirmed.
The blast, which occurred just before noon local time (0830 GMT) in the southern province of Hormozgan, triggered widespread fires that raged for over 10 hours, state media reported.
“The intensity of the fire in Shahid Rajaee Port has increased, and it is possible that the fire could spread to other areas and containers,” state television said as emergency crews battled strong winds that hampered efforts to extinguish the flames.
The cause of the explosion was not immediately clear. However, the port’s customs office, quoted by state TV, suggested that the incident likely stemmed from a fire in a depot storing hazardous and chemical materials.
