The aftermath of a devastating explosion at Shahid Rajaee port raises critical questions about safety protocols and accountability in Iran.
**Iran's Port Catastrophe: Investigations Underway as Death Toll Climbs to 70**
**Iran's Port Catastrophe: Investigations Underway as Death Toll Climbs to 70**
Iran's interior minister cites negligence behind the deadly port explosion as firefighting efforts continue.
Iran's interior minister, Eskandar Momeni, has declared negligence as a key factor in the catastrophic explosion and subsequent fire at the nation's largest container port, Shahid Rajaee in Bandar Abbas, which recently claimed the lives of at least 70 individuals. The tragedy, which occurred on Saturday, also resulted in injuries to over 1,000 people.
Authorities indicate that the blast was sparked by imported cargo, with the Customs Administration revealing that the implicated cargo had neither been registered nor declared prior to the incident. The port's firefighting operations, while nearing completion, are expected to extend for several more days according to Hormozgan's crisis management director, Mehrdad Hassanzadeh.
Momeni mentioned that certain individuals have been called in for questioning as part of the investigation into "shortcomings" related to safety compliance. Despite rumors swirling about potential military-related materials, Iran's defence ministry has firmly denied that the explosion involved sodium perchlorate, commonly used as a solid fuel for missiles, and labeled the reports from foreign media as misinformation.
The local administration is now faced with the daunting challenge of recovering from the blast’s extensive damage, which affected nearly two-thirds of the port area, an estimated 1,500 hectares (3,700 acres). The situation is expected to normalize within one to two weeks, although it remains uncertain what further revelations the continuing investigation may uncover.
Authorities indicate that the blast was sparked by imported cargo, with the Customs Administration revealing that the implicated cargo had neither been registered nor declared prior to the incident. The port's firefighting operations, while nearing completion, are expected to extend for several more days according to Hormozgan's crisis management director, Mehrdad Hassanzadeh.
Momeni mentioned that certain individuals have been called in for questioning as part of the investigation into "shortcomings" related to safety compliance. Despite rumors swirling about potential military-related materials, Iran's defence ministry has firmly denied that the explosion involved sodium perchlorate, commonly used as a solid fuel for missiles, and labeled the reports from foreign media as misinformation.
The local administration is now faced with the daunting challenge of recovering from the blast’s extensive damage, which affected nearly two-thirds of the port area, an estimated 1,500 hectares (3,700 acres). The situation is expected to normalize within one to two weeks, although it remains uncertain what further revelations the continuing investigation may uncover.
