TEHRAN: According to initial estimates, at least 47 people are injured and state media reported that atowering plume of black smoke was noted over the strategic shipping hub.

The blast struck the Shahid Rajaei port dock, more than 1,000 kilometers south of Tehran, triggering a fierce blaze that emergency crews are still battling to control, according to Esmaeil Malekizadeh, a senior official with the Hormozgan Ports and Maritime Administration.

Videos circulating on social media captured the chaotic aftermath — thick smoke billowing into the sky, damaged buildings, scorched vehicles, and people surveying the wreckage. Although authorities confirmed the number of injured, they have yet to release an official cause for the explosion.

Shahid Rajaei port is a vital artery for Iran’s container shipping and houses oil tanks and petrochemical facilities, raising concerns about potential environmental fallout. Emergency teams remain on site as investigations continue.