Iran Massive Explosion Death Toll Rises to 25, Over 800 Injured

Fires continued to burn on Sunday at Iran’s Shahid Rajaee Port, following a devastating explosion that killed at least 25 people and injured around 800 others, according to Iranian media reports.

The blast, which occurred on Saturday, tore through the country’s largest commercial port, situated near the vital Strait of Hormuz — a critical route through which nearly 20% of the world’s oil supply passes.

Local authorities stated that the explosion likely began with a fire at the port’s hazardous and chemical materials storage depot. Several containers reportedly detonated in succession, intensifying the catastrophe. The customs office at Shahid Rajaee Port confirmed the probable cause in a statement aired on state television.

According to The New York Times, an individual linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, speaking anonymously, revealed that the substance involved was sodium perchlorate — a key component in solid missile fuel. If confirmed, this detail would highlight the severity and danger of the materials stored at the port.

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Tasnim news agency, citing the provincial judiciary chief, updated the death toll to 25 by Sunday, with injuries climbing to approximately 800.

Live television footage showed thick black smoke billowing from the site even 20 hours after the explosion, as firefighters struggled to fully contain the blaze. “The fire is under control but still not completely extinguished,” reported a state TV correspondent from the scene.

The shockwave from the blast was so intense that it was felt and heard up to 50 kilometers (about 30 miles) away, according to Fars News Agency. Widespread structural damage was reported across the port, with many buildings severely compromised.

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Speaking at the scene on Sunday, Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni assured the public that “the situation has stabilized in the main areas” of the port. He added that port operations, including container loading and customs clearance, had cautiously resumed.

Dramatic images shared by the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) showed rescuers navigating debris-strewn boulevards, crushed vehicles stained with blood, and helicopters dumping water on raging fires. Massive clouds of black smoke continued to rise above the stacks of shipping containers, underscoring the scale of the destruction.

This catastrophic incident has raised serious concerns about safety protocols surrounding the storage of hazardous materials at one of Iran’s most strategically important ports. Authorities are now investigating the full cause and impact of the explosion as recovery efforts continue.