A massive explosion rocked the Shahid Rajaee port near the strategic Strait of Hormuz on Saturday after a fuel tanker went off, leaving 70 dead and over 1,000 injured, according to an updated toll from Iran’s state IRNA news agency.
Emergency teams worked to battle the blaze for days following the explosion and managed to fully extinguish the flames on Monday, IRNA said, citing officials in the Hormozgan province.
An investigative committee formed to determine the circumstances behind the blast concluded that the reason was a “failure to observe safety and passive defense standards,” warning of discrepancies and saying that security and defense authorities are “seriously seeking to identify the wrongdoers.”
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei ordered a thorough probe into the blast. “Security and judicial officials are required to conduct a thorough investigation, uncover any negligence or intent, and pursue it in accordance with regulations.”
President Masoud Pezeshkian visited the blast site, thanking emergency workers and expressing his support to the victims.
Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni blamed “negligence” for the explosion.
Located in Hormozgan province, Shahid Rajaee is Iran’s largest commercial port.