Dozens of people were injured on Saturday in an explosion at Rajaee Port in Bandar Abbas, southern Iran.

Iranian state television reported on Saturday a "huge explosion" and fire at a port in Iran's Hormozgan province, more than 1,000 kilometers south of Tehran.

"The explosion occurred in a part of the Shahid Rajaee Port dock, and we are working to extinguish the fire," Esmail Malekizadeh, an official with Hormozgan's Ports and Maritime Administration, was quoted as saying by state television.

He added, "Initial investigations indicate that the explosion was caused by a number of containers stored at Shahid Rajaee Port. We are evacuating the scene and transporting the injured."

A powerful explosion occurred at the port of Rajaee in southern Iran.

"Eighty injuries have been transferred to hospitals so far," an emergency medical service spokesman said.

Later, Tasnim News Agency quoted a spokesman for Iran's Emergency Organization as saying that the number of injured in the explosion had risen to 195.

Later, the spokesman for the Iranian Emergency Organization announced that the number of infected people had risen to more than 400.

An Al Arabiya TV correspondent quoted an eyewitness inside Rajai Port as saying that one building was completely destroyed by the explosion, in addition to extensive damage to buildings in the vicinity.

Mehr News Agency reported that Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni received a preliminary report on the incident during a phone call with Hormozgan Governor Mohammad Ashouri, noting that he ordered an immediate investigation.

In turn, the National Iranian Oil Refining and Distribution Company stated: "Following the publication of news of an explosion and fire in the Shahid Rajaee Port area, we would like to inform you that this explosion was not related to the oil refineries, fuel tanks, distribution complex, or oil pipelines associated with this company in that area, and that the facilities in the Bandar Abbas area are currently operating without interruption."

The statement added: "Rescue and firefighting equipment and machinery from all oil companies present in the region are on standby and offering their services to assist in managing the aforementioned incident, by the Ports and Maritime Organization."