A huge blast, likely caused by the explosion of chemical materials, killed at least 14 people and injured more than 700 on Saturday at Iran's largest port, Bandar Abbas, Iranian state media reported.
According to China's Consulate General in Bandar Abbas, three Chinese citizens sustained minor injuries in the explosion. They are now in good condition after receiving medical treatment.
Ahmad Pouyafar, governor of the provincial capital Bandar Abbas, announced that all educational centers across the city would be closed on Sunday due to the explosion and resulting air pollution.
Hossein Zafari, spokesperson for the National Disaster Management Organization, told the semi-official Fars News Agency that chemical materials in a container at the port caused the blast.
Meanwhile, Iranian government spokeswoman Fatemeh Mohajerani warned against any "hasty speculations" about the cause of the incident before relevant authorities complete their investigations.
She added that what had been confirmed so far was that there were containers, likely holding chemical materials, at a corner of the port.
Rapid reaction and rescue teams have been dispatched to the scene, and all port activities have been suspended, the semi-official Tasnim News Agency reported, adding that the number of injured is likely to increase.
In a post on X, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian extended sympathy to the victims of the explosion, announcing that he had issued a directive for an investigation into the blast and its cause.
He added that Iran's Interior Minister, Eskandar Momeni, had been dispatched to the province to ensure necessary coordination and to address the condition of the injured.
Later in the day, the Iraqi Foreign Ministry extended condolences to the government and people of Iran, expressing deep sympathy to the families of the victims and wishing a speedy recovery of the injured.
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani directed Interior Minister Abdul Amir al-Shammari to coordinate with his Iranian counterpart to assess the incident and provide immediate assistance, according to a brief statement from al-Sudani's media office.
Singapore