Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, ordered a comprehensive investigation on Sunday, April 27, 2025, into a massive explosion at Shahid Rajaee Port in Bandar Abbas that killed at least 40 people and injured 1,242.
According to the port’s customs office, the blast, which occurred on Saturday, likely stemmed from a fire in a hazardous and chemical materials storage depot.
Video caught the moment a massive explosion rocked Iran’s largest port in Bandar Abbas on Saturday, killing 25 people and injuring around 1,000 more, according to state media. An official investigation into the cause of the blast has begun. pic.twitter.com/ZkHDBlzKZy
— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) April 27, 2025
President Masoud Pezeshkian visited the site, where fires continued to burn, expressing support for first responders and promising aid for victims’ families. “We will take care of those who lost loved ones and the injured,” he said. The health ministry advised residents to stay indoors and wear masks due to toxic smoke, while Bandar Abbas schools and offices closed to prioritise emergency efforts.
UPDATE: At least 40 people have been killed and more than a thousand injured in an explosion at Iran's biggest port, near the city of Bandar Abbas. Officials have linked the blast to poorly stored chemicals, but the government says it's too soon to determine the exact cause. pic.twitter.com/9GQG3hdqZp
— DW News (@dwnews) April 27, 2025
The explosion, near the strategic Strait of Hormuz, disrupted Iran’s largest commercial port, though Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni reported stabilised operations. Russia is sending aircraft with specialists to assist, and some of the injured were airlifted to Tehran. The cause remains under investigation, with officials urged to examine negligence or intent.
Read: Death Toll From The Explosion at Bandar Abbas Port Kills 18, Injures Over 700