Gas Leak Causes Explosion at Iranian Port City of Bandar Abbas

Fire Official Identifies Possible Cause of Explosion in Iranian Port City

A gas leak has been identified as a possible cause of an explosion that damaged a residential building in Bandar Abbas, a port city in Iran’s Hormozgan province. According to Mohammad Amin Lyaghat, the local head of the fire department, residents were evacuated from the building on Moallem Boulevard after the blast occurred.

Lyaghat stated that the initial theory suggests a gas leak and buildup led to the explosion. The exact number of casualties is not yet clear. Mehrdad Hassanzadeh, the head of crisis management in Hormozgan province, reported that wounded individuals were being transferred to hospital, but no deaths had been confirmed.

The explosion occurred at an eight-storey building, causing damage to two floors, several vehicles, and shops. Images showed the building’s facade was blown out, exposing parts of its interior, with debris scattered around.

The incident took place amid heightened tensions between Iran and the United States. US President Donald Trump has made public statements regarding potential military action against Iran. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) denied that any of their naval forces were targeted in the explosion.

Bandar Abbas is home to Iran’s main container port, which handles a significant portion of the world’s seaborne oil. A major explosion occurred at the port last April, resulting in dozens of fatalities and over 1,000 injuries.

Source: Al Jazeera