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At least fourteen people were killed by a large explosion and a subsequent fire in the Iranian port of Shahid Rajaee. More than 750 people were injured according to the Iranian state television. International press agencies report this.
On images You can see how a large plume of smoke rises above the harbor on the Strait of Hormuz. You can also see how miles away the windows of buildings have jumped. After the explosion, a severe fire raged, which, according to the State television, increased in severity on Saturday evening.
The cause of the explosion is still unknown. According to the Iranian state channel, several containers exploded in the port. According to customs in the port, the explosion took place in a storage place for hazardous substances. The Iranian government has conducted an investigation.
There are more often explosions in Iran, but rarely of this size. For example, regularly with outdated oil installations, although according to the state channel that is not the case now. Because international sanctions on land make it difficult to obtain new materials, there is overdue maintenance with many oil installations. But no energy infrastructure would have been involved in this explosion.
The port of Shahid Rajaee is the largest commercial port in Iran, according to Staatspersbureau Irna. Containers transport eighty million tons of products every year, and more than 70 percent of Iranian goods go through this port. A fifth of all traded oil passes through the street of Hormuz worldwide.
This message was updated on Sunday at 0.50 am. The death toll has been adjusted.