The number of victims of the violent explosion in the main port of Iranian containers, Bandar Abbas, has increased to at least 70 people dead, while more than 1,200 people were injured, the state media announced on Monday. The firefighters still fought against the fire, which the Iranian authorities now declare controlled 48 hours after its start.
The explosion, which occurred on Saturday in the Shahid Rajaee section of the Port – the largest hub of containers in the country – triggered a fire that continued, fueled by the wind and the presence of flammable goods in the containers, some giving off toxic emissions in the area, according to official media.
“After having controlled the important fire, the rescue operations continue,” said the state media, quoting the governor of the province of Hormozgan, where Bandar Abbas is located. “The withdrawal of the containers could take up to two weeks,” they added.
The news agency ISNA reported that the Minister of the Interior, Eskandar Momeni, announced the end of national operations to counter the fire in Shahid Rajaee, the management of rescue is now entrusted to local authorities.
“Contributions to respecting security protocols have been identified and some responsible persons have been summoned,” said Momeni, according to state media.
A first report by the Investigation Committee in charge of the case has noted failures in accordance with the principles of civil defense and security.
-About 22 people are missing and 22 bodies have not yet been identified, said national television, citing the Governor of Hormozgan.
The supreme guide, the Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, ordered Sunday the opening of an investigation to “uncover any negligence or intention” at the origin of the incident, suggesting that the sabotage track is not dismissed.
The explosion occurred while Iran started a third cycle of nuclear discussions with the United States in Oman, without any link having been established between the two events.
Iran Infrastructure Communications Company announced on Monday that a vast cyber attack against the country’s infrastructure had been postponed the day before the explosion, without providing more details.
The mismanagement of the storage of chemicals in the containers would be suspected of being behind the explosion. A spokesperson for the crisis management organization had already warned of potential risks for security at the port on Saturday.
The Iranian Defense Ministry denied international media information on Sunday suggesting that the explosion could be linked to poor solid fuel manipulation used for missiles.
