A massive explosion struck Iran’s principal commercial hub, Shahid Rajaee Port, on Saturday, leading to a devastating fire that killed 14 people and injured 750 others, state media reported. Located near the strategic Strait of Hormuz—through which a fifth of the world’s oil passes—the port became the center of an emergency response as thick smoke engulfed the area.

City Shuts Down Amid Emergency Response

Authorities ordered all schools and workplaces in Bandar Abbas, the capital of Hormozgan province, to remain closed on Sunday. The move aimed to prioritize rescue and firefighting operations, according to reports on state television.

Cause Under Investigation; Fire May Spread

Although officials have yet to determine the exact cause, preliminary reports suggest that a fire at a hazardous and chemical materials storage depot could have triggered the blast. The port’s customs office indicated that investigations were underway.

“The intensity of the fire in Shahid Rajaee Port has increased and it is possible that the fire could spread to other areas and containers,” state TV warned late Saturday. Efforts to contain the blaze were hampered by strong winds, according to reporters on the scene.

Widespread Destruction Across Port Facilities

Located over 1,000 kilometers south of Tehran, Shahid Rajaee Port is Iran’s most modern container terminal, as reported by the IRNA news agency.

Images broadcast by IRNA showed debris-strewn streets, scorched vehicles, and survivors navigating the wreckage. Flames engulfed trailers while helicopters tried to douse the thick, black smoke pouring from stacks of shipping containers.

Hundreds of injured victims were rushed to local hospitals, while the provincial blood bank called for urgent blood donations.

President Orders Immediate Investigation

President Masoud Pezeshkian expressed condolences to the victims and directed officials to probe the cause of the explosion. “Issued an order to investigate the situation and the causes,” he said, sending Interior Minister Momeni to the disaster site.

At the scene, Momeni told state TV, “All resources from other cities and Tehran have been dispatched… and we hope to be able to extinguish the fire in the coming hours.”

Eyewitness Accounts Capture the Tragedy

In a video circulating on social media, a man filming the aftermath said, “My truck was completely destroyed and my friend died,” while showing a body lying on the ground. AFP could not independently verify the video. Since Saturday marked the start of the Iranian workweek, the port was bustling at the time of the explosion, intensifying the human toll.

Reports from China’s CCTV revealed that three Chinese nationals sustained minor injuries.

Multiple Container Explosions Blamed for Blast

Mehrdad Hassanzadeh, the head of Hormozgan’s crisis management authority, attributed the incident to “the explosion of several containers stored in the Shahid Rajaee Port wharf area,” according to state TV. The blast was powerful enough to be felt 50 kilometers away, Fars news agency noted. Tasnim News Agency reported that most port structures suffered severe damage due to the shockwave.

Global Reactions Pour In

The United Arab Emirates expressed solidarity with Iran, while Saudi Arabia extended condolences to the victims’ families. Meanwhile, Iran’s National Iranian Oil Products Distribution Company clarified that oil facilities remained unaffected by the blast.

“The explosion has no connection to refineries, fuel tanks, distribution complexes or oil pipelines,” the company stated, adding, “Bandar Abbas oil facilities are currently operating without interruption.”

Recent Disasters Raise Safety Concerns

This explosion follows one of Iran’s worst industrial accidents in recent memory—a coal mine blast last September in Tabas, eastern Iran, which claimed over 50 lives.

Saturday’s tragic event occurred as Iranian and U.S. officials engaged in nuclear talks in Oman, with both sides reporting signs of progress.