The fire is said to be under control but not yet extinguished. Helicopters and planes are reported to have water-bombed the area during the night, but images on state TV show that black smoke is still rising from the Shahid Rajaee harbor area. The extinguishing work is being hindered by strong winds, and there are concerns that the flames may spread.
Schools in the province of Hormozgan will be closed on Sunday so that authorities can focus on extinguishing and rescue efforts. Iran's Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni is on site in Bandar Abbas to monitor the operations and investigate the incident, according to state-run IRNA.
The port of Bandar Abbas is described by IRNA as the country's largest for container cargo, with 80 percent of Iran's container transport reportedly handled at the port.
A three-day mourning period has been declared locally.
The cause of the explosion is unknown. A representative of the harbor's customs office says that the fire started in a warehouse where hazardous chemicals were stored, according to reports in state media.
Port officials are said to have received rocket fuel from China in March, according to the private security firm Ambrey. Iran has not confirmed that the country received the shipment.
