Iran declares national mourning over Bandar Abbas port explosion
3 Min Read
Iran mourns 40 lives lost in the blast, as officials blame poor safety measures, launch investigations amid rising injuries, and international rescue efforts.
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In this photo provided by Iranian Students' News Agency, ISNA, a helicopter drops water on the fire after a massive explosion rocked a port near the southern port city of Bandar Abbas, Iran, Saturday, April 26, 2025. (AP)
The Islamic Republic of Iran declared a day of national mourning for Monday, following the tragic explosion at Shahid Rajaei Port in Bandar Abbas on Saturday.
The head of the Iranian Red Crescent Society announced that the death toll from the explosion has risen to 36, with more than 1,000 injured. He added that while most of the injured have been treated, 190 individuals remain under medical care in hospitals.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian arrived in Bandar Abbas to review the situation in person. His visit follows an earlier directive assigning the interior minister to oversee the investigation and manage the response to the disaster on-site.
Later on, Hormozgan Province Governor Mohammad Ashouri updated the figures, stating, "As of now, 40 people have died from injuries sustained in the explosion," as reported by the state-run IRIB news agency.
'Poor safety measures, incompatible materials'
The Ministry of Interior released the first surveillance footage showing the fire and subsequent explosion. Commenting on the images, the governor of Hormozgan province explained, "The fire was initially small, with light smoke. About a minute and a half later, the blaze spread rapidly, causing a massive explosion."
He attributed the spread of the fire to "poor safety measures and incompatible materials," and emphasized that "these images refute many of the false rumors and misleading assumptions."
A loud explosion rocked Shahid Rajaee Port in #BandarAbbas, southern Iran.
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) April 26, 2025
The National Iranian Oil Refining and Distribution Company then confirmed that the blast was unrelated to any refineries, fuel storage, distribution facilities, or oil pipelines operated by the company at… pic.twitter.com/2e4EbmWCEi
In a show of solidarity, the Russian embassy in Tehran announced that, under orders from President Vladimir Putin, several Russian aircraft carrying specialized rescue teams were dispatched to Iran to help extinguish the fire at Shahid Rajaei Port, following an official Iranian request.
Meanwhile, Tehran's Public Prosecutor's Office has filed legal cases against several media outlets and activists accused of spreading false information regarding the explosion. Warnings were also issued to other media organizations involved in disseminating inaccurate reports.
Pezeshkian ordered an investigation
Earlier, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian ordered an immediate investigation to determine the circumstances and causes of the incident.
Pezeshkian also tasked the interior minister with representing him on the ground to oversee the investigation and manage the aftermath of the explosion.
The explosion, which occurred on Saturday, caused the complete destruction of an administrative building and several vehicles in the area. The nature and cause of the blast remain unknown.
Iranian government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani stated that determining the cause of the explosion would take time.
She added that initial findings suggest that containers stored in a section of the port, possibly containing chemical materials, may have triggered the explosion.
