Death toll from Iran port explosion rises to 40

Chemicals at port suspected to have fuelled blast

- REUTERS

The death toll from a powerful explosion at Iran's biggest port of Bandar Abbas has risen to at least 40, with more than 700 people injured, state media reported on Sunday, as firefighters worked to fully extinguish the fire.

Saturday's blast took place in the Shahid Rajaee section of the port, Iran's biggest container hub, shattering windows for several kilometers around, tearing metal strips off shipping containers and badly damaging goods inside, state media said.

The incident occurred as Iran held a third round of nuclear talks with the US in Oman.