Residents of Shiraz, Iran, woke to chaos after a massive explosion tore through an industrial workshop late Saturday night, sending fireballs and thick black smoke into the sky. The blast originated at a gas-cylinder filling plant, and the shockwave could be felt for miles.
According to early reports, the explosion threw 50- to 60-kilogram LPG cylinders hundreds of meters away. Nearby cars and shops were damaged, and witnesses described scenes of panic as firefighters rushed to contain the inferno.
“The entire area shook like an earthquake,” one witness said. “Flames were everywhere, and people were running into the streets.”
Iranian officials confirmed that at least nine people were injured, while state television initially reported only two light injuries. Seven firefighting units battled the blaze for hours before it was brought under control.
Authorities have not ruled out sabotage, though preliminary reports suggest the cause was a gas leak at the LPG workshop. The explosion triggered an evacuation of nearby homes and warehouses as a safety measure.
This isn’t the first industrial disaster to hit Iran this year. Experts have repeatedly warned that aging infrastructure, poor safety oversight, and lack of modernized systems make such facilities prone to accidents — or worse, targets for attacks.
Video clips circulating online show towering flames lighting up the night sky as first responders scramble to move away explosive cylinders scattered across the ground. The fire’s intensity and the fear it caused have turned this into one of the most alarming industrial incidents in recent memory.
As investigators search for the cause, the people of Shiraz are left shaken — and reminded just how quickly ordinary workdays can turn into scenes of disaster.
⚠️ “You could feel the heat from hundreds of meters away,” said one resident. “It felt like the whole sky was burning.”
Location: Industrial Zone, Shiraz, Iran
Facility: LPG / Gas Cylinder Workshop
Injuries: 9 reported
Status: Fire contained — cause under investigation