28 Killed and At Least 800 Injured After Massive Port Explosion

At least 28 people are dead and more than 800 injured after a massive explosion rocked the port of Bandar Abbas in southern Iran, according to state media.

The blast sent a huge column of thick, gray smoke into the sky over the Shahid Rajaee port complex. Videos verified by CNN showed the chaos unfolding, while Iranian officials said the explosion likely involved chemicals stored at the site.

Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni said six people are still missing as firefighters struggle to contain the blaze, with high winds making the job even harder.

The exact cause of the explosion remains a mystery for now. Government spokeswoman Fatemeh Mohajerani said investigators are working on it but warned it could take time. “So far what has been determined is that containers stored in one corner of the port likely contained chemicals which exploded,” she said. “But until the fire is out, we can’t be certain.”

To add to the confusion, Iran’s National Iranian Oil Refining and Distribution Company insisted the explosion wasn’t connected to refineries, fuel tanks, or oil pipelines. This came after earlier reports claimed a fuel tanker might have been involved.

The explosion hit so hard that Iranian authorities declared a state of emergency in Bandar Abbas. Officials warned of a dangerous spike in air pollution and urged everyone to stay indoors, avoid outdoor activities, and keep windows shut.

Health teams were quickly deployed, and emergency measures were put into place to protect the public, Iranian media reported.

Surveillance footage captured the horrifying moment the blast went off, appearing to show it starting inside a warehouse. Other videos showed helicopters dropping water over the smoldering wreckage.

Debris littered the area and buildings across the port were badly damaged. The shockwave shattered windows several kilometers away. Reports from the scene described people trapped in collapsed buildings as rescue teams rushed to dig them out.

The region’s governor, Mohammad Ashouri Taziani, said the injured were being taken to local medical centers. The port has been completely shut down, and all maritime operations have been suspended.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian ordered a full investigation into what happened. He posted on X that the Interior Minister had been dispatched to the site to personally oversee the response and figure out how to prevent disasters like this from happening again.

The state broadcaster IRIB said the explosion took place in the chemical and sulfur storage area of the port.

The incident has left Iran in shock. Footage on Iran’s Press TV showed long lines of people lining up at health centers to donate blood for the victims.

Shahid Rajaee Port is a major shipping hub, handling around 70 million tons of cargo each year. The sprawling complex covers more than 5,900 acres and features massive warehouses and dozens of shipping berths.