Massive explosion, fire strikes Iranian port, injures at least 516 people
Tehran, Apr 26 (AP): A massive explosion and fire rocked a port on Saturday in southern Iran, injuring at least 516 people, state television reported.
The blast happened at the Shahid Rajaei port just outside of Bandar Abbas, a major facility for container shipments for the Islamic Republic that handles some 80 million tons (72.5 million metric tons) of goods a year.
Social media videos showed black billowing smoke after the blast. Others showed glass blown out of buildings kilometers away from the epicentre of the explosion.
Authorities offered no cause for the explosion hours later, though videos suggested whatever ignited at the port was highly combustible.
Industrial accidents happen in Iran, particularly at its aging oil facilities that struggle for access to parts under international sanctions. But Iranian state TV specifically ruled out any energy infrastructure as causing or being damaged in the blast.
Mehrdad Hasanzadeh, a provincial disaster management official, told Iranian state TV that first responders were trying to reach the area while others were attempting to evacuate the site.
Hasanzadeh said the blast came from containers at Rajaei port in the city, without elaborating. State TV also reported there had been a building collapse caused by the explosion, though there were no immediate other details offered.
Rajaei port is some 1,050 kilometers southeast of Iran's capital, Tehran, on the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf through which 20 per cent of all oil traded passes.
The blast happened as Iran and the United States met Saturday in Oman for the third round of negotiations over Tehran's rapidly advancing nuclear programme.
BREAKING | A massive explosion has been reported at the Port of Shahid Rajaee, one of two sections within the Port of Bandar Abbas, located on the north shore of the Strait of Hormuz in southern Iran.
— The Cradle (@TheCradleMedia) April 26, 2025
According to Mehr News Agency, a fuel tank in the port exploded due to unknown… pic.twitter.com/vN8r4yHyCT
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Nipah: 8 suspected cases test negative, patient condition remains critical
Thiruvananthapuram, May 10 (PTI): The Kerala government on Saturday said that eight more people, who had come into contact with a Nipah virus infected patient in Malappuram district, tested negative for the disease.
However, the infected patient continues to be in critical condition despite being given one dose of monoclonal antibodies on Friday, state Health Minister Veena George said in a statement.
Another dose would be administered to the patient on Saturday, she said.
With eight more testing negative, the total number of persons who have been cleared of the disease has reached 25, the statement.
Meanwhile, 37 more were added to the contact list of the infected patient, bringing the total number to 94, it said.
Of these, 53 are in the high risk category with 40 of them from Malappuram, 11 from Palakkad and one each from Ernakulam and Kozhikode districts of the state, it said.
The remaining 43 are in the low risk category, the statement said.
Besides the infected person, five others are under treatment in various hospitals in the state, the minister said in the statement.
A joint outbreak investigation has been started in Malappuram district with the coordination of various departments, the statement said.
It also said that health workers visited 1,781 homes in that district during the day as part of a fever survey.
