Putin orders Russian emergency planes to Iran after blast at port of Bandar Abbas

Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered several planes to be sent to Iran to help deal with the aftermath of a blast at Iran’s port of Bandar Abbas, Russia’s emergency ministry said on Sunday.

Putin has expressed his condolences over the loss of life and offered to provide help to Iran dealing with the aftermath of a blast, the Kremlin said.

It said Putin had conveyed “words of sincere sympathy and support to the families of the victims, as well as his wishes for a recovery to all those injured.”

The emergency ministry said a Beriev Be-200 amphibious aircraft specialising in firefighting, as well as an Ilyushin Il-76 military transport plane, would be sent to Iran to help out.

Iranian state media have reported that a huge blast, probably caused by the explosion of chemical materials, killed at least 25 people and injured more than 700 on Saturday at Bandar Abbas, Iran’s biggest port.