The number of people injured in the explosion at Iran’s Shahid Rajaei port has risen to 406, Babak Yektaperast, spokesman for Iran’s national emergency services, said on Saturday.
Nearly three hours after the blast, no official reports on fatalities have been released.
Sabotage is considered unlikely in the explosion at Iran’s Shahid Rajaei port, a national crisis management spokesman said on Saturday, citing earlier official safety warnings issued for the site.
Hossein Zafari told ILNA news agency that chemical materials stored inside containers were likely the cause of the blast and that previous inspections had flagged safety concerns. "Past warnings about the port’s safety reduce the likelihood of sabotage," Zafari said.
He urged the public to rely on official sources for updates, warning that widespread rumors were circulating. "The volume of rumors is so high that we are forced to clarify even obvious matters," he added.
Zafari said toxic smoke from the fire was hampering rescue efforts and that the full cause would be determined after the fire was brought under control. No confirmed death toll has been announced yet, but the shockwave was felt up to 50 kilometers away.
