The British Ambberry Company for Maritime Security revealed that the destructive fire that broke out in the “Rajai Port” in Bandar Abbas, southern Iran, on Saturday, caused by a misunderstanding with a shipment of solid fuel for Iranian ballistic missiles.
The company reported that the shipment contains the “ammonium”, a chemical that is used in the manufacture of missile fuel, and it had arrived from China last March.
The accident resulted in a huge explosion that killed 25 people and wounded more than 1139 others, according to Iranian television.
The fire caused widespread material damage, as video clips showed thick clouds of black smoke raising over the port, while the firefighting teams are still struggling to completely control the fire.
Witnesses indicated that the fire began small on the sidewalk before it extended into open containers containing flammable materials, which led to the explosion.
The Iranian President, Masoud Boukhskian, issued instructions to conduct an urgent investigation to reveal the circumstances of the accident, while the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed that the incident was caused by chemicals stored in the port.
It should be noted that Rajai port is one of the most important commercial ports in Iran, and this is not the first time that such incidents have been exposed, which raises questions about safety procedures in dealing with dangerous materials.
