Iran announced this evening (Monday) that the death toll from the explosion at Bandar Abbas port has risen to 70, up from the 46 reported yesterday. According to reports, more than 1,000 people were injured in the blast, which occurred on Saturday afternoon.
Explosion Believed to Be Caused by Missile Fuel Ignition
Despite claims raised within Iran suggesting possible Israeli involvement, Israeli sources firmly denied any connection, and Iranian authorities have not officially blamed any outside party. Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni stated that preliminary findings point to negligence in the storage of hazardous materials.
According to assessments, the blast was triggered by the ignition of chemical substances, possibly sodium perchlorate, a material used in the production of solid rocket fuel for ballistic missiles. These materials reportedly arrived from China in recent months.
Internal Investigation Points to Improper Storage
Iran’s Interior Minister explained that storage practices at the port failed to meet required safety standards: “The materials should have been dispersed and not stored in one location.”
Authorities have launched an investigation, and several officials responsible for managing the hazardous materials have been summoned for questioning. Responding to rumors that military materials were present at the site, Iran’s Defense Ministry clarified that “no military materials were stored at the port,” and accused foreign media outlets of conducting a “psychological campaign against Iran.”
Mushroom Cloud and Widespread Damage
Footage documenting the explosion shows an initial orange smoke cloud, followed by the rapid expansion of a fireball and a massive mushroom cloud. The blast wave caused structural damage across several kilometers surrounding the port.
This evening, Iran announced that it has successfully contained the fire, which burned for two days, and that search efforts for missing persons were continuing at the site.
