• A fire at the Kaveh Petrochemical Complex in Iran has resulted in three fatalities.
• The fire was triggered by a welding accident, leading to an explosion.
• Ten others were injured in the incident, with concerns about rising casualty numbers.
• The chemical plant is a significant producer of methanol, producing 2.3 million tonnes annually.

A massive fire broke out at the Kaveh Petrochemical Complex located in Iran's Bushehr province, which has led to the deaths of at least three people, according to state media reports. The incident occurred on Wednesday and was reported to arise from a welding accident that ignited an explosion at a methanol storage tank, resulting in severe injuries to ten others. Footage showed significant smoke rising from the site, marking another crisis in a region already shaken by a deadly explosion at Shahid Rajaee port just a month prior, which killed 58 people, according to Indiatimes, Al Jazeera, and Dawn.

The Kaveh Petrochemical Complex is crucial in methanol production, generating approximately 2.3 million tonnes annually. Officials, including the provincial head of crisis management, Kourosh Dehghani, reported that the fire has been contained, with further evaluation of casualties expected. He confirmed that firefighters have begun cooling operations at the site. Alireza Sajadi, Mayor of Dayyer, noted the complexity of the incident, suggesting that “the number of injuries and deaths is likely to increase,” as responders continue their work, according to Al Jazeera and Dawn.