Tehran: A powerful explosion struck a residential building in the Iranian port city of Bandar Abbas on Saturday, causing extensive structural damage and affecting nearby vehicles and shops, according to media reports.
News agencies said the blast occurred in an eight-storey building located in the Moallem Boulevard area of the Gulf coastal city. As a result of the explosion, two floors of the building collapsed, while several parked vehicles and adjacent commercial shops were also damaged.
The cause of the explosion has not yet been determined, officials said.
Iranian state media reported that rescue, emergency, and firefighting teams rushed to the scene, and relief operations are currently underway.
Iranian media also dismissed reports claiming that a commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) was targeted in the incident, calling such claims baseless.
Authorities have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the blast, while further details are awaited.