A major explosion has shaken Shahid Rajaee port in the southern Iranian city of Bandar Abbas, leaving at least 281 people injured, state media has said.
The blast happened on Saturday as Iran entered a third round of nuclear negotiations with the United States in Oman.
A local crisis management official told state television: "The cause of this incident was the explosion of several containers stored in the Shahid Rajaee Port wharf area. We are currently evacuating and transferring the injured to medical centres."
State TV, quoting a spokesman for first responders, reported that almost 300 people had been injured in the explosion, though it remained unclear whether there were any fatalities.
A major explosion has shaken Shahid Rajaee port in the southern Iranian city of Bandar Abbas
REUTERS
The Tasnim news agency shared footage showing injured men lying on the road as emergency teams worked amid chaotic scenes.
Firefighting efforts were still underway, with customs officials at the port confirming that trucks were being evacuated from the area.
They noted that the container yard where the explosion occurred likely housed "dangerous goods and chemicals."
State TV added that "negligence in handling flammable materials was a contributing factor" to the blast.
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Oil infrastructure in the area was reportedly unaffected.
The National Iranian Petroleum Refining and Distribution Company also issued a statement saying: "The explosion and fire in Shahid Rajaee Port have no connection to refineries, fuel tanks, distribution complexes and oil pipelines related to this company."
The powerful blast shattered windows several kilometres away, according to Iranian media, with videos online showing a large mushroom cloud rising above the port.
Fars News reported that the explosion was even heard on Qeshm Island, located about 26 kilometres (16 miles) south of Bandar Abbas.
A man is seen watching news of the explosion in Iran
GETTY
In 2020, Shahid Rajaee Port was the target of a cyberattack that disrupted operations and caused major backlogs.
The Washington Post later reported that Israel appeared to be behind the cyberattack in retaliation for a previous Iranian operation.
There has been no immediate comment from Israeli military officials or Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office regarding any possible involvement in the latest incident.
