The videos of social networks show a large column of black smoke and a fireball that rises from the area of the explosion.
A powerful explosion and a fire in the largest commercial port in Iran killed at least eight people and wounded more than 750, said Interior Minister.
The helicopters threw water on the furious fire hours after the initial explosion of Saturday in the port of Shahid Rajaei, located more than 1000 km (620 miles) south of the capital, Tehran.
“All the resources of other cities and Tehran have sent their legs … and we hope to extend the fire in the next few hours,” said Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni, to state television at the explosion site.
On Saturday night, the IRNA news agency said that the Iran Customs Administration blamed a “reserve of dangerous goods and chemical materials stored in the port area” by the explosion, without elaborating.
Mehrad Hasanzadeh, director of the Crisis Management Organization of the province of Hormozgan, told state television that the injured were transferred to medical facilities.
He said that security officials had previously visited the site of the incident and issued security warnings.
The National Company of Refining and Distribution of Iranian oil products issued a statement by saying that the oil facilities in the area were not affected by the explosion.
“The explosion and fire in the port of Shahid Rajajai do not have a connection with refineries, fuel tanks, distribution complexes and oil pipes related to this company,” said the company.
Previously, the ports of Hormozgan and the maritime administration official Estmaeil Malekizadeh, said the explosion toks place near the Shahid Rajaei Port dock.
The videos of social networks showed a huge black smoke plume and a fireball that rose from the area of the explosion.
Other videos showed damage to buildings and vehicles. There were also several people around the area according to the injured and verify the damage to the properties.
The port of Shahid Rajahei mainly handles container traffic and also has oil tanks and other petrochemical facilities.
In May 2020, Israel was accused of launching an important cyber attack in the same port, causing transport chaos for days after blocking the installation computer system.
The explosion arrives at a sensitive moment, since continuous Iranian officials to participate in conversations with the United States officials in a possible new nuclear agreement.
