Fire reignites at Iran's Bandar Abbas port National mourning set for April 28

A fire that broke out on April 26 following a powerful explosion at Shahid Rajaee Port in the Iranian city of Bandar Abbas has reignited in the eastern section of the port.

The renewed fire is believed to have been caused by the presence of bitumen and chemicals in several containers stored at the site, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media. 

Mehrdad Hassanzadeh, the head of Hormozgan province crisis management authority, confirmed that the renewed fire in the eastern section of Shahid Rajaee Port was caused by the bitumen and chemicals stored in several containers. He explained that these materials were responsible for reigniting the fire. 

In response to the tragedy, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian expressed deep sympathy for the victims and announced an official investigation into the cause of the explosion. The Iranian government has declared April 28 as a national day of mourning to honor the victims of the explosion, with nationwide observances set to take place in remembrance of those who lost their lives in the tragic event.

The number of fatalities from the explosion at the Shahid Rajaee seaport in the city of Bandar Abbas in southern Iran has risen to 36, said Mohammad Jamalian, a member of the Health and Medical Services Commission of the Islamic Consultative Assembly (Iran's parliament).

The bodies of 18 dead persons are yet to be identified. Since April 26 evening, 1,241 injured people have been admitted to medical centers, of which 994 have already been discharged, while 240 are still undergoing treatment in hospitals, including 37 in intensive care. Five have severe burns.

By Naila Huseynova