Iranian Oil Refining and Distribution Company: The explosion did not affect energy facilities.
A major explosion occurred at Shahid Rajee port in Bandar Abbas, southern Iran, today, injuring approximately 400 people, according to initial estimates.The National Iranian Oil Refining and Distribution Company stated that the explosion in Bandar Abbas did not affect energy facilities.
The blast
The blast took place at the Shahid Rajee port district on Saturday morning, shattering windows of nearby office buildings.Officials told state TV the explosion had been centred in the port and that several unsealed containers had exploded.
The explosion of several containers stored
A local crisis management official told state television: “The incident was caused by the explosion of several containers stored in the Shahid Rajaee Port dock area. We are currently evacuating the injured and transporting them to medical facilities.”
Suspended port operations to extinguish the fire
Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency reported on Saturday that port operations were suspended to extinguish the fire, and “many people are likely injured or even killed,” given the port’s large workforce.Iranian state media reported the explosion was so large it damaged buildings and cars in the vicinity. Residents also reported hearing the explosion from several kilometres away.
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A cyberattack in 2020
It is noteworthy that the port’s computers were hit by a cyberattack in 2020, causing significant disruption to waterways and roads leading to the facility. The Washington Post reported that Israel, Iran’s regional enemy, appeared to be behind the attack in retaliation for a previous Iranian cyberattack
A third round of nuclear talks
The explosion occurred as a third round of nuclear talks between Iran and the United States began in the Sultanate of Oman.
About Port of Shahid Rajaee
Port of Shahid Rajaee (Persian: بندر شهید رجایی) is one of the two parts in the port of Bandar Abbas, southern Hormozgan province, Iran, located in the north shores of the Strait of Hormuz in southern Iran. Shahid Rajaee port is about 14.5 kilometers (nine nautical miles) west-southwest of the Port of Bandar Abbas
The area of Shahid Rajaee Port covers about 2400 hectares. The port has the capacity of handling 70 million tons of cargo annually, a figure which includes three million TEUs of containerized cargo. The Port of Shahid Rajaee consists of 23 berths having alongside depth of 15 meters. The overall roofed warehouse covers an area of over 19 hectares of roofed warehouses. The port is featured with 23.5 kilometers of domestic railway tracks
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