According to official figures released by the Islamic Republic of Iran, the explosion at Shahid Rajaei Port — near Bandar Abbas in Iran’s southern province of Hormozgan — has resulted in 70 confirmed deaths, with 22 people still missing, and more than 1,200 injured.
Hossein Zafari, spokesperson for Iran’s National Crisis Management Organization, said extinguishing the fire at the blast site could take up to three weeks. He also noted that more bodies may be found during this period, particularly those of individuals who were closest to the explosion.
Reports suggest that 99 percent of the victims were male and female workers who were on duty at the time of the incident.
The explosion occurred at noon on April 26 in Sector-6 of the Shahid Rajaei Port (a Special Economic Zone), formerly known as Shahbandar. The cause of the explosion has not yet been determined or publicly disclosed, and speculation continues amid conflicting statements from government officials.
Esmail Hajizadeh, executive secretary of the Hormozgan Workers’ House, told the Iranian Labor News Agency (ILNA): “The explosion occurred around noon in the dockyard area of Bandar Abbas while many workers were present. I was at the dock myself shortly before the blast.”
“According to eyewitnesses, containers holding hazardous chemicals detonated, creating a massive initial cloud. The force of the explosion was so intense that it shattered the windows of my car and ripped the ceiling off the room we were in. I saw a trailer cabin hurled into the air — even people were thrown skyward,” he explained.
Hajizadeh also pointed out that women were among the workers at the port: “Based on the information available to us at the Workers’ House, three female workers have been confirmed dead so far, and one remains missing. Families are still coming forward to report missing daughters, so the number of female casualties may increase.”
The investigation committee’s initial report on the fire at Shahid Rajaei Port confirmed that the incident was partly caused by a failure to follow safety protocols and inadequate defense measures.
The statement also cited instances of false reporting and noted that security and judicial authorities are working to identify those responsible.
Regardless of the fire’s origin, one of the most devastating aspects of the disaster is the toll it has taken on workers and staff — resulting in hundreds of deaths, injuries, and permanent disabilities.
The number of victims continues to climb.
As of the night of April 28, the Hormozgan Province Crisis Management Headquarters reported 70 confirmed deaths.
Hormozgan Governor Mehdi Ashouri said that 22 individuals remain missing, and the bodies of another 22 are currently unidentifiable.
The Islamic Republic has a well-documented history of withholding or distorting data, and it remains unclear whether the lack of transparency — particularly concerning how many workers were present at the port — is due to systemic failure or a deliberate effort to obscure the truth.
Available data indicates that around 14,000 full-time and 42,000 skilled, semi-skilled, and unskilled workers — full-time and part-time — were engaged in various ports, maritime, and technical roles within the Rajaei Special Economic Zone.
Since the explosion, dock operations, particularly in Sector-6, have ceased, leaving many daily wage laborers without income.
According to reports from the Islamic Republic, over 1,240 people were injured, many suffering severe burns, limb loss, and eye injuries. Some of these injuries are life-changing, with several individuals unlikely to return to work even after recovery.
Surviving workers are reportedly grappling with severe psychological trauma, with many — particularly those who witnessed colleagues being injured or killed — exhibiting symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), according to local sources.
Despite the Hormozgan Judiciary’s promise of immediate insurance compensation for the deceased’s families, previous incidents suggest this may not happen.
Injured workers have told domestic media that hospitals demanded upfront payment before providing treatment, despite the seriousness of their injuries.
Some customs workers and other personnel have suffered life-altering injuries, including blindness, amputations, and spinal cord damage. It remains uncertain how their disability compensation will be calculated or whether they will receive long-term pensions.
The explosion at Shahid Rajaei Port is the latest in a string of fatal workplace accidents in Iran.
According to the Iranian Legal Medicine Organization (ILMO), 1,077 workers died in workplace incidents during the first half of the last Iranian calendar year (March 21 to September 21, 2023).
