More than 500 injured after a strong explosion in a port in the south of Iran | International

At least 516 people were injured this Saturday in a strong explosion in the port of Shahid Rajai, located in the southern city of Bandar Abbas, an important oil center in Iran, as reported by the Tasnim news agency. The accident occurred in the customs area at noon for still unknown reasons.

“It is very likely that the explosion originated from a deposit of dangerous goods and chemicals located in the port area,” said Port Customs through a note. The authorities are still trying to extinguish the great fire that originated while the trucks and vehicles in the area have evacuated, says state television.

The first vice -president of Iran, Mohamad Reza Aref, ordered “an immediate and exhaustive investigation to determine the exact cause of the accident and the extent of the damage”. For his part, Mohammad Ashuri, governor of the province of Hormozgan, where the accident occurred, said that “the origin of the explosion is still unknown”.

The expansive wave was so strong that it damaged the buildings and cars that were in the area. Local televisions showed images of a huge black clouds on the port, as well as panic scenes in the area.

Port activities have been suspended so that the security and rescue forces can quickly control the situation, according to the Tasnim agency.

Iran National Refining and Petroleum Distribution Company reported in a declaration that the activities relating to its company have not been affected and continue to operate on Bandar Abás, an important oil center in the country.

This accident occurs on the same day when an Iranian delegation It is collected in Oman with representatives of the United States with the aim of achieving a nuclear agreement. Tehran’s goal, as insured by his foreign minister before the meeting, is “to end the unjust sanctions and generate confidence in the peaceful character of his nuclear program”.

This port has undergone a computer attack that paralyzed its activities in 2020 and that Iran accused Israel. Shahid Rajai is a commercial and industrial port in Bandar Abás, the capital of the province of Hormozgan, and has an area of ​​over 2,400 hectares and an annual ability to receive over 88 million tons of goods.