A huge explosion, reportedly connected to a shipment of a chemical component used for the production of rocket fuel, killed at least 40 people and injured more than 1000 others in the southern Iranian port city of Bandar Abbas.
Authorities in Iran have not offered a clear explanation of what caused the explosion on April 26th at the Shahid Rajaee port, although independent experts said that the reason, it seems, was the improper storage of sodium perchlorate, a component used in rocket fuel.
State media reported on April 27th that the explosion is now under control.
The Shahid Rajaee port is the busiest in Iran, handling up to 80 percent of the country’s maritime traffic.
Hossein Zafari, spokesperson for Iran’s crisis management organization, blamed poor storage of chemicals in containers at the port for the explosion.
“The cause of the explosion was chemicals in the containers,” he said.
“Earlier, the general director for crisis management had warned this port during his visits and pointed out the possibility of danger,” Zafari said.
