Incident of fire extinguished following three days of attempts
In the aftermath of a destructive inferno at Iran's busiest container port, flames have been subdued. According to an Iranian Red Crescent representative speaking to state television on Monday evening, the situation had improved and clean-up operations were now in motion. Monday's broadcasts showed lingering smoke above stacks of containers on Tuesday morning.
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IRNA cited Hossein Safari, the spokesperson of the state emergency organization, as suggesting the emergency had shown marked improvement compared to Monday. However, he warned that the comprehensive firefighting measures could take between 15 to 20 days to complete. Customs officials at the port resumed their duties on Tuesday, as per Irna's report.
Casualty Count Climbs
Initial reports stated that at least 70 individuals lost their lives and hundreds more suffered injuries in the Shahid Rajai port explosion on Saturday. On Monday, the Iranian government attributed the disaster to negligence. The Interior Minister, Eskander Momeni, pointed out deficiencies, including lax security measures, at the site.
Governor Mohammed Aschuri of Hormozgan province discounted theories of sabotage on Monday evening, deeming them unfounded and irrelevant, as reported by state television.
Speaking of the incident's aftermath, hospitals in the area have handled the wounded, while emergency services continue to respond. The explosion prompts concerns about air pollution due to hazardous chemicals such as ammonia, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide being released into the atmosphere. As a safety precaution, schools in Bandar Abbas were temporarily closed.
Understanding the Explosion
Experts believe that the blast could have originated from containers on the port premises, potentially carrying substances such as ammonium perchlorate or other rocket fuel chemicals. The Iranian government's investigation is still ongoing, though preliminary findings point to poorly stored hazardous materials as the likely culprit. The facility where the blast occurred is linked to a charitable organization overseen by Iran's Supreme Leader.
- Officials suggest the improvement in the aftermath of the Shahid Rajai port explosion, despite the firefighting measures taking between 15 to 20 days to fully complete.
- The casualty count has risen since the explosion, with at least 70 lives lost and hundreds injured, according to initial reports.
- The Iranian government has attributed the disaster to negligence, citing lax security measures and deficiencies at the site.
- Authorities are investigating the explosion, with experts speculating that it may have been caused by hazardous materials poorly stored in containers at the port.
