Deadly Explosions Rock Southern Iranian Cities of Bandar Abbas and Ahvaz

Multiple Blasts Cause Fatalities and Injuries

On Saturday, January 31, 2026, two significant explosions occurred in southern Iran, impacting the cities of Bandar Abbas and Ahvaz. The incidents collectively led to at least five deaths and 14 injuries, according to official reports.

In Bandar Abbas, a port city in southern Iran, an explosion at an eight-story residential building on Moallem Boulevard resulted in the death of one person, identified as a four-year-old girl, and injured 14 others. The blast caused substantial damage, destroying two floors of the building and affecting several vehicles and shops in the vicinity.

Meanwhile, in the southwestern city of Ahvaz, a separate explosion claimed the lives of four people. This incident occurred within a four-unit residential complex located in the Kianshahr neighborhood.

Official Cause Attributed to Gas Leaks

Iranian authorities and state media have consistently stated that both explosions were caused by gas leaks. The Ahvaz Municipality Fire Department and Safety Services specifically indicated that the explosion in Ahvaz was due to a leak in the city's gas network. In Bandar Abbas, the local fire department chief, Mohammad Amin Liaqat, provided a preliminary assessment also pointing to a gas leak and buildup as the cause.

Rumors and Denials Amidst Heightened Tensions

The explosions occurred amidst a backdrop of regional tensions. Social media rumors suggesting that the Bandar Abbas blast targeted an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) naval commander, specifically Alireza Tangsiri, were swiftly refuted by the IRGC-affiliated Tasnim News Agency, which labeled them as 'completely false'. Additionally, Israel denied any involvement in the incidents.

Despite official explanations, some local accounts have raised questions. A resident in Bandar Abbas, in a video obtained by Iran International, claimed that the affected building was not connected to the gas grid, which contradicts the official narrative of a gas leak.

Rescue and Recovery Efforts Underway

Following the blasts, rescue and firefighting teams were immediately dispatched to both sites to provide assistance and manage the aftermath. Images from Bandar Abbas showed the building's facade blown out, with debris scattered across the area, highlighting the intensity of the explosion.