A shipping container burst into flames, killing at least 28 people at the largest freight port in Iran.

Officials said that one of the cargo containers exploded at Shahid Rajaee Port in Bandar Abbas, Hormozgan. More than 1,000 workers are believed to have been injured.

CCTV footage shows thick brown smoke billowing into the air moments before flames engulf the crate following the massive explosion on Saturday, April 26.

Frantic workers can be seen fleeing the area, while a white car attempts to move away from the cargo. However, it was caught in the explosion.

Local media reported that fire brigades and emergency responders immediately sprang to action to extinguish the inferno and aid injured employees.

Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni said that about 80 per cent of firefighting operations had been completed by Sunday afternoon, with cleanup efforts now underway.

The Ministry of Health has declared a state of emergency in the city due to serious air pollution and the risk of chemical contamination.

Authorities have also shut down all schools, universities, and government offices in the city as a precaution.

Police are continuing to investigate the cause of the explosion.

A source close to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said that the blast was caused by sodium perchlorate, a chemical commonly used in solid rocket fuel.

However, a spokesperson for the Iranian defence ministry confirmed that no military shipments were involved in the incident.

Iranian officials have said that a complete damage assessment and a timeline for restoring the port will be released once the fire has been fully extinguished.

Rajaei Port, ranked 59th among the world's major ports, plays a crucial role in Iran's economy, handling a substantial portion of the country's trade, with no immediate alternative for its vast cargo capacity.

The explosion has significantly impacted port operations, halting 57 per cent of the country's cargo-handling capacity. Although customs and transit activities have partially resumed, full operations are suspended until the fire is completely controlled.