Death toll rises after powerful explosion in Iran

Iranian authorities have announced that at least 25 people have been killed and 800 injured in a powerful explosion at one of Iran's main ports.

The explosion occurred at Shahid Rajaee, Iran's largest commercial port, near the southern city of Bandar Abbas, on Saturday morning.

According to state media reports, six people are still missing.

The explosion shattered windows and roofs of surrounding buildings and destroyed cars. Residents reported feeling the impact of the explosion up to 50 kilometers away.

Videos that with the BBC has verified show a fire that became increasingly intense before the large explosion, after which people began to flee, while some were left injured in the streets, surrounded by smoke and debris.

"The entire warehouse was filled with smoke, dust and ash. I don't remember whether I hid under the table myself or the explosion threw me there," a witness told Iranian state television.

Aerial footage showed at least three areas on fire, with Iran's Interior Ministry later confirming the fire was spreading from one container to another. Schools and offices in the region were ordered to remain closed on Sunday.

Shahid Rajaee Port is Iran's largest and most modern, through which a large portion of Iran's commercial ship traffic passes.

It is located in the Strait of Hormuz, the main waterway for oil tankers, about 20 kilometers west of Bandar Abbas, Iran's largest port city on the southern coast and home to the main base of the Iranian Navy. /Telegraph/

New footage shows yesterday's massive explosion at Iran's Bandar Abbas port. pic.twitter.com/MIoa5fOFh8

- Clash Report (@clashreport) April 27, 2025