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In Tianjin Blasts, a Heavy Toll for Unsuspecting Firefighters In Tianjin Blasts, a Heavy Toll for Unsuspecting Firefighters
(about 5 hours later)
BEIJING — The young firefighters, their thin frames puffed up by insulated coveralls, some of them barely old enough to shave, rushed to the scene of a modest warehouse blaze in the port city of Tianjin on Wednesday night with little idea of the danger that awaited them. BEIJING — The young firefighters, their thin frames puffed up by insulated coveralls, some of them barely old enough to shave, rushed to the scene of a modest warehouse blaze in the port city of Tianjin on Wednesday night with little idea of the danger that awaited them.
Initial reports described a car on fire. But the 60 or so men who first arrived at the scene — contract firefighters employed by the Tianjin Port Group, many of them as young as 17 — confronted a blaze that had spread to metal shipping containers stored nearby. The firefighters aimed their hoses at the flames and turned on the water.Initial reports described a car on fire. But the 60 or so men who first arrived at the scene — contract firefighters employed by the Tianjin Port Group, many of them as young as 17 — confronted a blaze that had spread to metal shipping containers stored nearby. The firefighters aimed their hoses at the flames and turned on the water.
That turned out to be a deadly mistake.That turned out to be a deadly mistake.
Roughly 15 minutes later, an explosion — fueled by a collection of volatile chemicals that emit a combustible gas when wet — ripped through the warehouse. Yang Kekai, 27, was thrown to the ground as flaming debris rained down. Another blast, seconds later, sent him hurtling more than three yards. “When I was flying through the air, my heart skipped a beat and I thought I was finished,” Mr. Yang said later from a hospital bed.Roughly 15 minutes later, an explosion — fueled by a collection of volatile chemicals that emit a combustible gas when wet — ripped through the warehouse. Yang Kekai, 27, was thrown to the ground as flaming debris rained down. Another blast, seconds later, sent him hurtling more than three yards. “When I was flying through the air, my heart skipped a beat and I thought I was finished,” Mr. Yang said later from a hospital bed.
Most of his colleagues were not so lucky.Most of his colleagues were not so lucky.
At least 39 firefighters were among the 114 people killed by the cataclysmic explosions that injured more than 700 people and traumatized Tianjin, China’s third largest city and the gateway to the country’s industrial northeast. At least 70 people remain unaccounted for, most of them private firefighters employed by the company that runs Tianjin’s sprawling port. At least 39 firefighters were among the 114 people killed by the cataclysmic explosions that injured more than 700 people and traumatized Tianjin, China’s third-largest city and the gateway to the country’s industrial northeast. At least 70 people remained unaccounted for, most of them private firefighters employed by the company that runs Tianjin’s sprawling port.
The disaster has raised questions about whether the warehouse, Rui Hai International Logistics, was illegally storing some of the world’s most dangerous industrial chemicals too close to the homes of thousands of unsuspecting residents.The disaster has raised questions about whether the warehouse, Rui Hai International Logistics, was illegally storing some of the world’s most dangerous industrial chemicals too close to the homes of thousands of unsuspecting residents.
Five days after the explosions, officials are still struggling to identify the toxic substances that continue to smolder, and occasionally explode, sending plumes of toxic smoke into the air. Five days after the explosions, officials were still struggling to identify the toxic substances that continue to smolder, and occasionally explode, sending plumes of toxic smoke into the air.
The true owners of Rui Hai also remain a mystery, fueling public speculation of an official cover-up. Some suspect the company’s opaque ownership structure is a deliberate attempt to protect the powerful and politically connected.The true owners of Rui Hai also remain a mystery, fueling public speculation of an official cover-up. Some suspect the company’s opaque ownership structure is a deliberate attempt to protect the powerful and politically connected.
China is no stranger to industrial accidents, which claim thousands of lives each year. In 2014, more than 68,000 people died on the job in China, according to government statistics, including 146 workers killed last August in a blast at a metal polishing plant near Shanghai.China is no stranger to industrial accidents, which claim thousands of lives each year. In 2014, more than 68,000 people died on the job in China, according to government statistics, including 146 workers killed last August in a blast at a metal polishing plant near Shanghai.
But the Tianjin explosions were the single deadliest disaster for Chinese firefighters since at least 1949, according to the state news media.But the Tianjin explosions were the single deadliest disaster for Chinese firefighters since at least 1949, according to the state news media.
In recent days, the families of the missing firefighters have taken their grief and frustration public. They have staged noisy protests, at one point clashing with the police outside a government building in Tianjin, and they interrupted an official news conference with handwritten lists of names.In recent days, the families of the missing firefighters have taken their grief and frustration public. They have staged noisy protests, at one point clashing with the police outside a government building in Tianjin, and they interrupted an official news conference with handwritten lists of names.
Their demand: to learn why their sons, husbands and brothers, all of them contract firefighters, were not included on the official tallies of the dead and missing. Their demand: to learn why their sons, husbands and brothers, all of them contract firefighters, were not on the official tallies of the dead and missing.
In a letter published over the weekend by the China Business Journal, the father of one missing firefighter asked why the government was ignoring the plight of the contract firefighters. The letter’s title: “The Lives Lost in the Raging Fires and Explosions: Which Ones Are More Valued and Which Ones Less?”In a letter published over the weekend by the China Business Journal, the father of one missing firefighter asked why the government was ignoring the plight of the contract firefighters. The letter’s title: “The Lives Lost in the Raging Fires and Explosions: Which Ones Are More Valued and Which Ones Less?”
The letter was later deleted from the newspaper’s website, but not before it had been widely reposted.The letter was later deleted from the newspaper’s website, but not before it had been widely reposted.
On Sunday, China’s prime minister, Li Keqiang, came to Tianjin and bowed before photos of fallen firefighters and police officers. After calling them “guardian angels,” he addressed the complaints that the sacrifices of contract workers were being ignored. “They are all heroes and deserve the same posthumous honor, and their families will be given the same compensation,” he said, according to a transcript the Foreign Ministry emailed to reporters on Monday night. On Sunday, China’s prime minister, Li Keqiang, came to Tianjin and bowed before photos of fallen firefighters and police officers. After calling them “guardian angels,” he addressed the complaints that the sacrifices of contract workers were being ignored.
“They are all heroes and deserve the same posthumous honor, and their families will be given the same compensation,” he said, according to a transcript the Foreign Ministry emailed to reporters on Monday night.
Questions remain over whether the men employed by the port were properly trained to fight chemical fires. Officials have acknowledged that Rui Hai was storing at least 700 tons of sodium cyanide and that it was licensed to handle calcium carbide, both highly volatile substances that emit explosive gas when wet.Questions remain over whether the men employed by the port were properly trained to fight chemical fires. Officials have acknowledged that Rui Hai was storing at least 700 tons of sodium cyanide and that it was licensed to handle calcium carbide, both highly volatile substances that emit explosive gas when wet.
In a phone interview on Monday, one contract firefighter defended the training he and his co-workers had received, but he acknowledged that they were not taught specific methods for fighting different kinds of chemical fires. In a phone interview Monday, one contract firefighter defended the training he and his co-workers had received, but he acknowledged that they were not taught specific methods for fighting different kinds of chemical fires.
The man, who declined to give his name and said that he was off duty the night of the explosions, said it was unfair to blame his co-workers for spraying water on the blaze. “No one told them the fire involved chemicals,” he said.The man, who declined to give his name and said that he was off duty the night of the explosions, said it was unfair to blame his co-workers for spraying water on the blaze. “No one told them the fire involved chemicals,” he said.
He said he has yet to learn the fate of the 25 men from his brigade who responded to the fire that night. “Our team is paralyzed with grief,” he said. He said he had yet to learn the fate of the 25 men from his brigade who responded to the fire that night. “Our team is paralyzed with grief,” he said.
The government has been widely criticized for a ham-handed response to the crisis, and for leaving many questions unanswered. On Monday, officials acknowledged that traces of sodium cyanide have been found in the adjacent Bohai Bay, but said that the tons of chemicals still littering the blast site posed no risk to surrounding neighborhoods. The government has been widely criticized for a ham-handed response to the crisis, and for leaving many questions unanswered. On Monday, officials acknowledged that traces of sodium cyanide had been found in the adjacent Bohai Bay, but said the tons of chemicals still littering the blast site posed no risk to surrounding neighborhoods.
Local residents, however, were unconvinced, and on Monday they held a rally demanding that the government purchase their homes. Local residents were unconvinced, and on Monday they held a rally demanding that the government purchase their homes.
Chinese leaders have vowed to punish those responsible for the disaster, and in a rare nod to public skepticism, they promised to pursue a transparent investigation. But in a nation where mistrust of the government is rampant — and where those responsible for tragic accidents often go unpunished — many people suspect a cover-up is in the works.Chinese leaders have vowed to punish those responsible for the disaster, and in a rare nod to public skepticism, they promised to pursue a transparent investigation. But in a nation where mistrust of the government is rampant — and where those responsible for tragic accidents often go unpunished — many people suspect a cover-up is in the works.
An online corporate registry was offline for several days after the blast. On Sunday night the database, which is maintained by the Tianjin government, came back online, but the listed information about Rui Hai International Logistics raised new questions about its murky ownership.An online corporate registry was offline for several days after the blast. On Sunday night the database, which is maintained by the Tianjin government, came back online, but the listed information about Rui Hai International Logistics raised new questions about its murky ownership.
The company’s entry included details rarely seen in China. The identification numbers of the two shareholders, Li Liang, 34, and Shu Zheng, 32, were given, information tantamount to revealing a Social Security number in the United States.The company’s entry included details rarely seen in China. The identification numbers of the two shareholders, Li Liang, 34, and Shu Zheng, 32, were given, information tantamount to revealing a Social Security number in the United States.
The unusual disclosures came as some of China’s most aggressive and respected news organizations began to raise questions about the company’s financial backing. One report in the Southern Metropolis Daily included an interview with Mr. Shu, who said he had nothing to do with the company and had simply agreed to hold the shares in his name for a friend, whom he refused to identify. Such shareholders, common in China, are called “white gloves” and are meant to disguise the true ownership of a company.The unusual disclosures came as some of China’s most aggressive and respected news organizations began to raise questions about the company’s financial backing. One report in the Southern Metropolis Daily included an interview with Mr. Shu, who said he had nothing to do with the company and had simply agreed to hold the shares in his name for a friend, whom he refused to identify. Such shareholders, common in China, are called “white gloves” and are meant to disguise the true ownership of a company.
Another report in the newsmagazine Caijing reported that Mr. Shu and Mr. Li were not the actual shareholders. Citing a person familiar with the logistics industry whom it did not name, Caijing identified one of the shareholders as Dong Mengmeng, the son of a former police chief in the Tianjin Port. Another report in the newsmagazine Caijing reported that Mr. Shu and Mr. Li were not the actual shareholders. Citing a person familiar with the logistics industry whom it did not name, Caijing identified one of the shareholders as Dong Mengmeng, the son of a former police chief in the Tianjin port.
For relatives of the missing, the mystery of who really owns the warehouse company has barely pierced their mantle of anguish. In recent days, Zhang Hong has spent her time outside Tianjin’s Port Hospital holding up a photo of her 21-year-old son. She said her son, Lei Chi, was proud to be a contract firefighter, even if the job carried less prestige and fewer benefits than those of firefighters who work for the government.For relatives of the missing, the mystery of who really owns the warehouse company has barely pierced their mantle of anguish. In recent days, Zhang Hong has spent her time outside Tianjin’s Port Hospital holding up a photo of her 21-year-old son. She said her son, Lei Chi, was proud to be a contract firefighter, even if the job carried less prestige and fewer benefits than those of firefighters who work for the government.
“I remember he once proudly told me, ‘Mom, what we have here is exactly the same as those national firefighters,’ ” she said. “I remember he once proudly told me, ‘Mom, what we have here is exactly the same as those national firefighters,’ ” she said.
Then, her voice trembling with emotion, she added, “I just wish he could be in that hospital. It wouldn’t matter even if he is seriously injured. It would be good as long as he is there somewhere.” Then, her voice trembling with emotion, she added: “I just wish he could be in that hospital. It wouldn’t matter even if he is seriously injured. It would be good as long as he is there somewhere.”