Five dead and more than 700 injured in blast at key Iran port

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iran explosionAt least five people have been killed and 700 injured in a massive explosion at one of Iran's key ports, state media is reporting.

The suspected chemical blast took place at Shahid Rajaee, the country's largest commercial port, near the southern city of Bandar Abbas on Saturday morning.

The explosion blew out windows and roofs of nearby buildings and destroyed cars. Residents reported feeling the impact of the blast up to 50km (31 miles) away.

Videos online show a fire growing into a huge inferno before the explosion, with people subsequently fleeing the blast and others lying wounded on the roads, surrounded by smoking debris.

On Saturday afternoon, fires were still raging at the wharfs as thick columns of thick, black smoke filled the air.

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