The head of Iran’s Red Crescent, Pirhossein Koolivand, confirmed on Sunday that the death toll from the massive explosion at Shahid Rajaee Port has climbed to 28, revising earlier estimates released by state media.
“Tragically, 28 people have died so far,” Koolivand said in a video shared on the Iranian government’s official website. He added that some of the over 1,000 injured victims had been transferred to Tehran for medical treatment.
The explosion, which occurred on Saturday at the Shahid Rajaee Port near the Strait of Hormuz, continues to spark fires, with black smoke still billowing from the site on Sunday. The port, located in southern Iran, is a critical commercial hub through which about 20% of the world’s oil supply passes.
State media reported that the explosion likely originated from a fire in a warehouse storing hazardous chemicals. A regional emergency official said multiple containers detonated during the incident. According to The New York Times, a source linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed the blast involved sodium perchlorate, a chemical used in missile fuel.
Local media outlets have provided varying casualty figures. While Tasnim news agency cited the provincial judiciary to report 25 deaths, Koolivand’s figure of 28 appears to be the most recent. State television previously said around 800 people had been injured.
Live footage on Sunday showed emergency responders at the scene with smoke still rising, nearly a full day after the explosion. “The fire is under control but not yet fully extinguished,” a state TV reporter said.
The force of the blast was strong enough to be felt nearly 50 kilometers away, according to the Fars news agency. Images from the site showed scorched vehicles, shattered buildings, and helicopters dropping water over massive plumes of smoke rising from between shipping containers.
Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni, speaking from the port on Sunday, said that “the situation has stabilized in key areas,” and that port operations, including container loading and customs clearance, had resumed.
Widespread Damage and Mourning
The explosion devastated port infrastructure. Tasnim reported that the shockwave caused significant structural damage to most port buildings.
Emergency services transferred hundreds of injured people to local hospitals, and the province’s blood transfusion center appealed for donations. Given the severity of the incident, authorities have declared three days of mourning in Hormozgan province. Schools and offices in the provincial capital, Bandar Abbas, were closed Sunday, and the health ministry urged residents to stay indoors and wear masks due to air pollution.
Three Chinese nationals were reported to have sustained minor injuries, according to China’s state broadcaster CCTV.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian expressed condolences to the victims and ordered an official investigation into the cause of the explosion.
Regional and International Reactions
The United Arab Emirates extended solidarity with Iran, while Saudi Arabia sent messages of condolence. Meanwhile, Iran’s state-owned National Iranian Oil Products Distribution Company stated that the explosion did not affect its operations in Bandar Abbas and that its facilities remained intact.
The incident occurred as Iranian and U.S. delegations held talks in Oman over Iran’s nuclear program, with both sides signaling progress.
Though Iranian authorities are currently treating the explosion as accidental, the blast comes in the context of long-standing tensions with Israel. Notably, The Washington Post previously reported that Israel had launched a cyberattack on the Shahid Rajaee Port in 2020.
