A Washington Post report pointed to a violent chemical reaction as the likely cause of the explosion at the Iranian port that killed at least 70 people.
The explosion at the Iranian port last week was caused by a chemical fire that began in a shipping container, as confirmed by visual evidence and explosives experts, The Washington Post reported on Friday.
The blast killed at least 70 people and injured more than 1,000 others. The explosion occurred at the Shahid Rajaee port in Bandar Abbas, a key site in Iran’s economy, where the majority of the country’s container trade is facilitated.
Surveillance video of the incident, verified by The Washington Post, shows a forklift moving into a container and then quickly exiting. Flames erupt inside the container, and a large explosion follows shortly after, sending debris and flames throughout the port.
The Washington Post reported that experts made a detailed review of over 90 videos, satellite imagery, and eyewitness accounts, combined with expert analysis, that pointed to a violent chemical reaction as the likely cause of the explosion.
The mentioned experts who reviewed the footage explained that the distinctive colors of the flames and smoke, including bright white to yellow and red, suggest the presence of sodium or ammonium perchlorate. These chemicals are typically used in munitions, rocket propellants, and explosives.
Satellite imagery reviewed by The Washington Post showed two craters at the site of the explosion, indicating that at least two containers caught fire and exploded in quick succession. Experts estimated the combined force of the explosions to be around 50 tons of TNT, a solid used in explosives, though there is a margin of error in the analysis.The mentioned experts who reviewed the footage explained that the distinctive colors of the flames and smoke, including bright white to yellow and red, suggest the presence of sodium or ammonium perchlorate. These chemicals are typically used in munitions, rocket propellants, and explosives.
Satellite imagery reviewed by The Washington Post showed two craters at the site of the explosion, indicating that at least two containers caught fire and exploded in quick succession. Experts estimated the combined force of the explosions to be around 50 tons of TNT, a solid used in explosives, though there is a margin of error in the analysis.
