Injuries reported after ‘massive’ blast at Iran’s port city of Bandar Abbas | News

Dozens of people have been injured following a massive explosion and fire at the Iranian port city of Bandar Abbas, more than 1,000km (620 miles) south of capital Tehran, according to state media.

Iran’s customs authority said in a statement that Saturday’s explosion occurred in the Sina container yard, which is affiliated with the Ports and Maritime Organization.

According to the Tasnim News Agency, at least 47 people were injured.

Mehrdad Hassanzadeh, director of Hormozgan province’s crisis management organisation, told state television that the injured have been transferred to medical facilities, but did not say how many were hurt.

Earlier, Hormozgan Ports and Maritime Administration official Esmaeil Malekizadeh said the explosion took place near the Shahid Rajaee port dock.

Social media videos showed a huge plume of black smoke rising from the area of the explosion.

Other social media videos showed damaged to buildings and vehicles. Several people were also seen around the area attending to the injured and checking the damage to the properties.

Shahid Rajaei port mainly handles container traffic and also has oil tanks and other petrochemical facilities.

[Translation: 47 people injured in Shahid Rajaee Port explosion. The Director General of Hormozgan Crisis Management said that an investigation is ongoing to determine the cause of the explosion, adding that public would be notified.]