A devastating explosion at Iran's Shahid Rajaee Port in Bandar Abbas has left at least 25 people dead and over 800 injured. The massive blast occurred on Saturday afternoon, April 26, at the country's largest and most modern port, according to reports from Iranian state media.

The head of Hormozgan Province's judiciary, Mojtaba Ghahremani, confirmed the casualty figures to the Tasnim News Agency. Injured individuals have been transferred to hospitals across various cities, including Shiraz, as emergency services struggle to manage the aftermath of the incident.

According to Al Jazeera, thick smoke continued to billow over Shahid Rajaee Port following the explosion. Initial fears among local residents and some observers suggested the possibility of sabotage. However, Hossein Jafari, spokesperson for Iran's National Disaster Management Organization, has dismissed these claims. Speaking to the Iranian Labor News Agency (ILNA), Jafari stated that no evidence of sabotage has been found so far. He attributed the explosion to chemical materials stored inside a container, stressing that the incident appeared accidental.

Jafari further warned the public against spreading or believing in rumors and urged citizens to rely only on official updates. He added that the presence of toxic smoke at the site has significantly hindered ongoing rescue operations. Authorities have indicated that a clearer picture of the full extent of casualties will emerge only after the fire is fully contained and the site is secured.

Eyewitnesses reported that the force of the explosion was so powerful that it was felt up to 50 kilometers away. The BBC noted that rooftops and windows of nearby buildings were blown off, and numerous vehicles were burned in the aftermath. Residents living as far as 50 kilometers from the port reported feeling the tremors and witnessing the effects.

Fars News Agency, another government-run outlet, reported that a small fire likely triggered the disaster. The fire rapidly spread due to the hot weather conditions and the presence of highly flammable materials at the port. Eyewitnesses described the intensity of the explosion, noting that the extremely high temperatures and the nature of stored substances contributed to the scale of the devastation.

Local media have yet to determine precisely what was inside the containers that exploded. However, reports indicate that the smell of sulfur was detected around the blast site. Following the initial explosion, additional secondary blasts were reported, complicating the situation further.

Iran's official news agency IRNA, citing government sources, described Shahid Rajaee as the country’s most advanced maritime port. It is located about 23 kilometers east of Bandar Abbas, the provincial capital of Hormozgan, and lies on the northern edge of the strategic Strait of Hormuz. This critical waterway handles nearly one-fifth of the world's oil shipments, highlighting the strategic importance of the location where the explosion occurred.

Authorities continue to battle the toxic smoke and fires at the port while investigating the precise causes behind the deadly explosion. Until the fire is fully under control, officials have warned that the casualty figures may yet rise.