Iran says the fire at a southern port rocked by an explosion finally was extinguished as the death toll in the incident rose to at least 70 people killed.

A massive explosion and fire that rocked a port Saturday in southern Iran, purportedly linked to a shipment of a chemical ingredient used to make missile propellant, has killed at least 40 people and injured around 1,000 others, officials said.

The death toll from a powerful explosion at Iran's biggest port has risen to at least 40, with more than 1,200 people injured, state media reported on Sunday.