Port operations resume fully at Iran’s Bandar Abbas after deadly blast

Iran’s port authority said full cargo operations have resumed at Bandar Abbas’s Shahid Rajaei terminal after an explosion on Saturday that killed at least 70 people.

Saeed Rasouli, acting head of Iran’s Ports and Maritime Organization, said 26 ships were currently docking and unloading at the port, with marine operations continuing under safety standards.

He said the blast affected about 15 hectares of the container yard, but other areas and terminals remained secure and operational. Investigations into the cause of the explosion and the contents of damaged containers are ongoing under the supervision of Hormozgan’s governor, Rasouli added.

Insurance companies are on site assessing damages, and the port authority has launched repairs in affected areas. Rasouli said port services were running at full capacity and there was no disruption to maritime or shipping operations.

Bandar Abbas’s Shahid Rajaei terminal handles around 70 million tonnes of cargo annually and includes 23 berths. Only one berth sustained serious damage in the blast, according to officials.