A devastating fire broke out at the Kaveh Petrochemical Company in Bandar Deyr, a port city in Iran‘s southern Bushehr province, claiming at least three lives and injuring two others. The chemical plant incident occurred on Wednesday after welding on a barge sparked an explosion in a methanol storage unit.
The chemical plant, spanning 200 hectares in the Gulf region, is a significant producer of methanol, manufacturing up to 2.3 million tonnes of the highly flammable chemical annually. Firefighters managed to contain the blaze and are now working to cool the site, with no further casualties expected, according to Kourosh Dehghani, the provincial head of the crisis management organization.
Dehghani explained that the fire broke out after welding on the barge ignited an explosion. Footage from the scene showed thick black smoke billowing from the site as firefighting units battled the flames. The cause of the accident is currently under investigation.
The incident at the Kaveh Petrochemical Complex highlights the importance of prioritizing safety and maintenance in industrial facilities. As investigations into the cause of the fire continue, it remains to be seen whether any lapses in safety protocols contributed to the tragedy.
The Iranian government has faced criticism in the past for its handling of industrial accidents, and this incident is likely to face similar scrutiny. Ensuring accountability and implementing measures to prevent such incidents in the future will be crucial in restoring public trust and confidence in the country’s industrial sector.