Iran Says Fire Contained after Deadly Blast at Key Port

A handout photo made available by the Iranian Red Crescent Society official channel shows a helicopter spraying water at the Rajaie port in the city of Bandar Abbas, southern Iran, 27 April 2025 (issued 28 April 2025). (EPA/ Iranian Red Crescent Society/ Handout)
A handout photo made available by the Iranian Red Crescent Society official channel shows a helicopter spraying water at the Rajaie port in the city of Bandar Abbas, southern Iran, 27 April 2025 (issued 28 April 2025). (EPA/ Iranian Red Crescent Society/ Handout)
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Iran Says Fire Contained after Deadly Blast at Key Port

A handout photo made available by the Iranian Red Crescent Society official channel shows a helicopter spraying water at the Rajaie port in the city of Bandar Abbas, southern Iran, 27 April 2025 (issued 28 April 2025). (EPA/ Iranian Red Crescent Society/ Handout)
A handout photo made available by the Iranian Red Crescent Society official channel shows a helicopter spraying water at the Rajaie port in the city of Bandar Abbas, southern Iran, 27 April 2025 (issued 28 April 2025). (EPA/ Iranian Red Crescent Society/ Handout)

Firefighters have brought under control a blaze at Iran's main port, following a deadly explosion blamed on negligence, authorities said.

The explosion, heard dozens of kilometers (miles) away, hit a dock at the southern port of Shahid Rajaee on Saturday.

At least 70 people were killed and more than 1,000 others suffered injuries in the blast and ensuing fire, which also caused extensive damage, state media reported.

Red Crescent official Mokhtar Salahshour told the channel late Monday that the fire had been "contained" and a clean-up was under way.

State television aired live footage on Tuesday showing thick smoke rising from stacked containers.

Iran's ILNA news agency quoted Hossein Zafari, spokesman for the country's crisis management organization, as saying the situation had improved significantly since Monday.

However, "the operation and complete extinguishing process may take around 15 to 20 days", the agency reported.

Iran's customs authority said port operations had returned to normal, according to the IRNA news agency.

The port of Shahid Rajaee lies near the major coastal city of Bandar Abbas on the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway through which one-fifth of global oil output passes.

Hormozgan provincial governor Mohammad Ashouri ruled out sabotage.

"The set of hypotheses and investigations carried out during the process indicated that the sabotage theory lacks basis or relevance," he told state television late Monday.

The port´s customs office said the blast may have started in a depot storing hazardous and chemical materials.

Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni said there were "shortcomings, including noncompliance with safety precautions and negligence".

A committee assigned to investigate the blast cited similar factors as the likely cause.



2nd Passenger Train Derails in England in 2 Days

14 August 2026, United Kingdom, Lewes: Rail workers and police officers investigate at the scene where a train with around 150 people on board derailed near Lewes railway station in East Sussex on Thursday. Photo: James Manning/PA Wire/dpa
14 August 2026, United Kingdom, Lewes: Rail workers and police officers investigate at the scene where a train with around 150 people on board derailed near Lewes railway station in East Sussex on Thursday. Photo: James Manning/PA Wire/dpa
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2nd Passenger Train Derails in England in 2 Days

14 August 2026, United Kingdom, Lewes: Rail workers and police officers investigate at the scene where a train with around 150 people on board derailed near Lewes railway station in East Sussex on Thursday. Photo: James Manning/PA Wire/dpa
14 August 2026, United Kingdom, Lewes: Rail workers and police officers investigate at the scene where a train with around 150 people on board derailed near Lewes railway station in East Sussex on Thursday. Photo: James Manning/PA Wire/dpa

A passenger train derailed near London on Friday, British Transport Police said, the second derailment in two days after two people were seriously injured when another train came off the tracks on Thursday.

Police said officers, paramedics and firefighters were at the scene near Wickford train station in Essex, about 30 miles east of London (48 kilometers), after receiving reports that the rear carriages of a train derailed. The carriages were in an “upright position," police said, and no injuries were reported.

National Rail said officials were working to understand what happened, and major disruptions to train services were expected through Friday afternoon.

The incident came less than 24 hours after a train from London to Eastbourne went off the tracks outside the southern English town of Lewes. Three carriages overturned, seriously injuring two people and causing minor injuries for 18 others.

All passengers were evacuated within about three hours, The Associated Press quoted the transport police as saying.

The cause of the derailment is under investigation.


World Bank Says it Disbursed $200 Million to Colombia for Quake Response

Volunteers participate with rescue teams in search and rescue operations after the earthquake that struck Colombia (Reuters)
Volunteers participate with rescue teams in search and rescue operations after the earthquake that struck Colombia (Reuters)
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World Bank Says it Disbursed $200 Million to Colombia for Quake Response

Volunteers participate with rescue teams in search and rescue operations after the earthquake that struck Colombia (Reuters)
Volunteers participate with rescue teams in search and rescue operations after the earthquake that struck Colombia (Reuters)

The World Bank on Friday said it had disbursed $200 million to Colombia for its emergency response to a deadly August 10 earthquake that left hundreds dead.

The multilateral development bank said it was working with the Colombian government and development partners, financial institutions and the private sector to address immediate needs, while laying the foundations for recovery, Reuters reported.

The bank said it had also launched a Global Rapid Assessment of Damages from Earthquakes (GRADE) to provide the Colombian government with an early assessment of damages and economic losses to help Bogota prioritize aid and reconstruction efforts.

Efforts were underway to channel financing to affected communities and businesses, including support for public health, housing, and small and medium-sized enterprises, the bank said.

The 7.4-magnitude quake struck shortly after 7:30 a.m. on Monday, toppling apartment blocks and damaging homes, schools and hospitals across western Colombia.

Authorities on Friday said that 285 people had been killed and nearly 4,000 injured. Nearly 400 others were still missing.

 

 

 


Pentagon Signs Deals with Boeing, RTX to Boost Missile Interceptor Component Production

Pete Hegseth, Pentagon'da düzenlediği basın toplantısı sırasında (Reuters)
Pete Hegseth, Pentagon'da düzenlediği basın toplantısı sırasında (Reuters)
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Pentagon Signs Deals with Boeing, RTX to Boost Missile Interceptor Component Production

Pete Hegseth, Pentagon'da düzenlediği basın toplantısı sırasında (Reuters)
Pete Hegseth, Pentagon'da düzenlediği basın toplantısı sırasında (Reuters)

The Pentagon on Friday announced framework agreements with Boeing and RTX to increase production of components of SM-3 Block IIA and SM-3 Block IB munitions, Reuters reported.

Both agreements will strengthen production of a series of critical ship-fired surface-to-air interceptors that underpin the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System, the Pentagon said in a statement.