The southern Iranian port of Bandar Abbas was ripped by a tremendous explosion Saturday. The explosion, believed to be a cargo of sodium perchlorate, a rocket fuel precursor, has killed at least eight people and injured 750, but given the size of the blast, these numbers are almost certainly an undercount.
π΄ Insane close-up footage from the Bandar Abbas explosion.
β π‘πΆπΌπ΅ ππ²πΏπ΄ β β‘οΈ (@NiohBerg) April 26, 2025
All of Iran is holding its breath.
pic.twitter.com/i4OquPRkzC
Helicopters dumped water on the fire, without a lot of success.
Port of Rajaei, Bandar Abbas / Iran - Death toll at 5
β MIBAWI (Michael Barthel) (@RealMiBaWi) April 26, 2025
Injuries: 708
πΈ ISNA / Firefighting helicopter drops water on the fire after the explosion on Suterday, 04/26/2025 pic.twitter.com/rgs0b0fMLn
π¨#Iran-The fire in Bandar Abbas has intensified.
β Tina (@Tina34832552745) April 26, 2025
Pouring water on chemical substances is highly dangerous and reactive. pic.twitter.com/049sux9Dr3
There have been secondary explosions, and the containers in the port are cooking off.
Secondary explosion.
β π‘πΆπΌπ΅ ππ²πΏπ΄ β β‘οΈ (@NiohBerg) April 26, 2025
Orange smoke.
Exactly like the Beirut blast in 2020.
pic.twitter.com/G0kKc1mx0K
The fire and explosions of containers are ongoing at Bandar Rajaee port in Iran, with official reports saying that eight have died and more than 750 have been injured. State media announced that all schools in Bandar Abbas city will be closed tomorrow. https://t.co/15nmL4p5WT pic.twitter.com/MOsrwrH7ry
β Ghoncheh Habibiazad | ΨΊΩΪΩ (@GhonchehAzad) April 26, 2025
Unofficially, ship tracking data identifies the sanctioned Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL) ship MV Jairan carrying sodium perchlorate from Shanghai to Bandar Abbas in the anchorage. The ship arrived around March 29 and was unloaded.
The explosion bears many similarities to that in Beirut in August 2020 that killed 200 and injured 6,000.
BACKGROUND:
Abandoned Shipment of Ammonium Nitrate Behind the Explosion in Beirut Today?? β RedState
There is no evidence of enemy action, which is not to say that Tehran won't blame the dastardly Jews for the explosion. The most likely cause is routine incompetence. The blast will not only be a setback to Iran's ballistic missile program, but will have a substantial impact on Iran's economy, as this port handles 85 percent of Iran's maritime traffic and it has been shut down and evacuated.
π΄ NEW:
β π‘πΆπΌπ΅ ππ²πΏπ΄ β β‘οΈ (@NiohBerg) April 26, 2025
The regime in Iran has evacuated the entire port in Bandar Abbas, moving all ships away from the deadly fire.
Iran's most vital port is as of now useless. pic.twitter.com/Y40rERw7f4
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