PM Grieves Over Deadly Explosion at Iran’s Shahid Rajaei Port
AFP/APP
Islamabad: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives and injuries caused by a powerful explosion at Iran’s Shahid Rajaei Port in the southern city of Bandar Abbas.
In his message of condolence, the Prime Minister extended heartfelt sympathies to the Iranian government and the brotherly people of Iran. He also offered prayers for the swift recovery of those injured in the tragic incident.
“In this hour of grief and sorrow, we stand firmly with the Iranian government and the brotherly people of Iran,” the Prime Minister stated, reaffirming Pakistan’s solidarity with Iran during this difficult time.
According to Iranian state media, a massive explosion ripped through Shahid Rajaei, the country’s largest commercial port located in Hormozgan province, killing at least four people and injuring more than 500 others.
The blast, which occurred at the hazmat and chemical materials storage depot, triggered a huge fire and sent thick columns of black smoke billowing into the sky. Helicopters were deployed to fight the flames as emergency services rushed to evacuate and treat the injured.
“The cause of the incident was the explosion of several containers stored at the port’s wharf area,” Mehrdad Hassanzadeh, head of the province’s crisis management authority, told state television.
The shockwave was so powerful that it damaged most of the port buildings and was felt up to 50 kilometers away, residents and local media reported.
Images from the scene showed rescuers and survivors navigating debris-strewn roads, with flames engulfing truck trailers and containers crumpled by the force of the blast.
Three Chinese nationals were among the lightly injured, according to China’s state broadcaster CCTV. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian expressed his sympathy for the victims and ordered an immediate investigation, dispatching Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni to assess the situation.
The Shahid Rajaei Port, situated about 23 kilometers west of Bandar Abbas and near the strategic Strait of Hormuz, plays a critical role in Iran’s economy as its most advanced container port.
Authorities confirmed that oil refineries and distribution facilities in Bandar Abbas remained unaffected by the explosion, and operations continued without interruption.
This rare industrial disaster comes months after a deadly coal mine explosion in eastern Iran last September, which claimed more than 50 lives.
Saturday’s tragedy coincided with high-level discussions between Iranian and US delegations in Oman over Tehran’s nuclear programme.
