At least 40 people killed in massive explosion at Iran’s Shahid Rajaee Port

Tehran: According to Al Jazeera, a giant explosion at Shahid Rajaee port in Bandar Abbas in southern Iran’s Hormozgan region on Saturday claimed at least 40 lives and wounded almost 1,000 more. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s Supreme Leader, demanded a comprehensive inquiry after the explosion and urged security and judicial authorities to find any incompetence.

The statement, which was shown on state television, said that “Security and judicial officials are obliged to thoroughly investigate, uncover any negligence or intent, and follow up in accordance with regulations.”

President Masoud Pezeshkian, meanwhile, paid a visit to hospitalized explosion survivors on Sunday, thanked first responders, and promised government assistance to the relatives of the wounded and the dead.

“We have come to see firsthand if there is anything or any issue that the government can follow up on,” Pezeshkian said upon arriving at the scene, thanking first responders. We will undoubtedly look after the loved ones who were hurt, and we will make an effort to support the families who lost a loved one,” Al Jazeera said.

Iran announced a national day of mourning on Monday in response to the tragedy.

Oil and general shipping are among the 70 million tons of cargo handled annually at Shahid Rajaee, a sizable facility for container shipments.

Eskandar Momeni, Iran’s interior minister, had earlier said that six persons were still unaccounted for as firemen worked to contain the fire in spite of obstacles including strong winds.

The reason for the explosion is yet unknown. Finding the cause of the explosion would take time, according to government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani, “but so far what has been determined is that containers were stored in a corner of the port that likely contained chemicals that exploded.”

According to her, “But until the fire is extinguished, it’s hard to ascertain the cause.”

In response to a sharp increase in air pollution, Iranian authorities have imposed a state of emergency in Bandar Abbas to safeguard the populace.