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Tianjin explosion: hundreds injured and at least 17 killed in fireball from China blasts – latest updates China blasts: hundreds injured and at least 17 killed in Tianjin explosion fireball – latest updates
(34 minutes later)
11.44am AEST02:44
The Chinese state-controlled news agency Xinhua reports that president Xi Jinping and premier Li Keqiang “have urged all-out efforts to save the injured and minimise casualties in the Tianjin blast”.
It says Xi has “ordered local authorities in Tianjin to spare no effort to treat the injured, search for the missing and contain the fire”.
A group led by public security minister Guo Shengkun will direct rescue operation and emergency response.
Xinhua reports:
Xi noted that the cause of the fire must be found out, family members of the victims should be taken good care of while public order should be maintained. Xi added search and rescue missions must be carried out in an appropriate way to guarantee the safety of the rescuers.
Xi also urged governments at all levels to draw a lesson from the accident, insist on the paramount interests of the people, carry out safety checks, enhance their management of dangerous chemicals, ensure production safety and protect the people’s lives and property.
Premier Li urged authorities to intensify search and rescue. He required that the injured should be treated properly to minimize death from injuries.
Li also vowed thorough investigation in the accident and ensure open and transparent information disclosure to the public.
China’s record on industrial disasters is poor: last year a blast in a factory killed around 70 people; in 2013, 119 people died in another factory explosion.
11.36am AEST02:36
Surprisingly – given the scale of the devastation – officials are insisting that the port of Tianjin is operating as normal, Reuters reports:
The northeastern Chinese port of Tianjin is operating as normal after two massive explosions ripped through an industrial area nearby overnight, a port official said on Thursday.
“[The port is] operating as normal. We have not been affected,” said an executive, who identified himself as the duty officer at Tianjin Port (Group) and gave his surname as Wei.
Tianjin is one of the world’s busiest container ports.
We will look into this.
11.26am AEST02:26
Six firefighters confirmed dead
My colleague Fergus Ryan sends this en route to Tianjin: six firefighters attending the scene of the blasts are now known to have been killed.
Tianjin rescue operation ongoing, 6 firefighters confirmed dead, many ppl still missing. 天津爆炸至少6名消防员遇难 中国新闻网 http://t.co/AzXIiHiVop
Updated at 11.26am AEST
11.20am AEST02:20
Officials say at least 17 dead
The latest death toll, according to government officials and state media, stands at 17 – although that number is expected to rise.
It is 9.15am in Tianjin – the explosions took place around midnight – and with part of the city reduced to rubble, the search and rescue effort is still in its early stages.
Reports say that several hundred people are being treated in hospitals for their injuries, with 32 so far confirmed to be in a serious condition. This number, too, can be expected to change as we receive more information.
Updated at 11.25am AEST
11.16am AEST02:16
My colleague Fergus Ryan is travelling to Tianjin, the site of the explosions.
Some media reports describe the scene as like the end of the world. 【天津危化品爆炸 300米外上千辆汽车被烧仅剩框架】http://t.co/mKVUyoEZDA pic.twitter.com/FIZhtRDNAu
There are reports of car tyres melted into the ground by the heat of the blasts, scorched buildings and areas reduced to rubble.
11.11am AEST02:1111.11am AEST02:11
This map shows the location of the blast, in the Binhai area of Tianjin, on the cusp of Bohai bay.This map shows the location of the blast, in the Binhai area of Tianjin, on the cusp of Bohai bay.
Tianjin is China’s fourth largest city by population, which the BBC puts at around 15 million. It is around 113km (70 miles) from Beijing.Tianjin is China’s fourth largest city by population, which the BBC puts at around 15 million. It is around 113km (70 miles) from Beijing.
11.00am AEST02:0011.00am AEST02:00
The blasts are believed to have originated from a special warehouse in the industrial port, designated for storing dangerous materials.The blasts are believed to have originated from a special warehouse in the industrial port, designated for storing dangerous materials.
We don’t yet know what these materials were, although Tianjin is a major base for petrochemicals, refining and other industrials.We don’t yet know what these materials were, although Tianjin is a major base for petrochemicals, refining and other industrials.
The industrial area of Tianjin is crammed with warehouses and containers, although there are residential buildings just a few hundred metres away – and the blasts were felt much further away still, rocking homes across the city.The industrial area of Tianjin is crammed with warehouses and containers, although there are residential buildings just a few hundred metres away – and the blasts were felt much further away still, rocking homes across the city.
As my colleague Emma Graham-Harrison reports:As my colleague Emma Graham-Harrison reports:
The biggest blasts, which took place within 30 seconds, were so strong that they registered at a nearby earthquake monitoring centre.The biggest blasts, which took place within 30 seconds, were so strong that they registered at a nearby earthquake monitoring centre.
The first blast was equal in strength to the detonation of three tons of TNT, while the second was the equivalent of 21 tons of the explosive, said the China Earthquake Networks Centre.The first blast was equal in strength to the detonation of three tons of TNT, while the second was the equivalent of 21 tons of the explosive, said the China Earthquake Networks Centre.
10.46am AEST01:4610.46am AEST01:46
Opening summaryOpening summary
Claire PhippsClaire Phipps
A series of devastating blasts in the city of Tianjin in northern China – the gateway port to Beijing – has sent a fireball hundreds of metres into the air.A series of devastating blasts in the city of Tianjin in northern China – the gateway port to Beijing – has sent a fireball hundreds of metres into the air.
Latest reports say hundreds of people have been injured and at least 17 killed, although that total is expected to rise.Latest reports say hundreds of people have been injured and at least 17 killed, although that total is expected to rise.
A shipment of “dangerous goods” in a warehouse went up in flames shortly before midnight local time (1600 GMT, 2am AEST), state media reported, causing explosions so strong that they shook homes on the other side of the city and sent flaming debris arching over nearby high-rise buildings.A shipment of “dangerous goods” in a warehouse went up in flames shortly before midnight local time (1600 GMT, 2am AEST), state media reported, causing explosions so strong that they shook homes on the other side of the city and sent flaming debris arching over nearby high-rise buildings.
As China wakes up to news of the blasts, this live blog will have the latest updates as more information comes through.As China wakes up to news of the blasts, this live blog will have the latest updates as more information comes through.
My colleague Fergus Ryan is on his way to Tianjin and you can follow updates from him @fryan.My colleague Fergus Ryan is on his way to Tianjin and you can follow updates from him @fryan.
I will also post key updates @Claire_Phipps.I will also post key updates @Claire_Phipps.
Catch up with our latest report here:Catch up with our latest report here:
Related: Explosions in Chinese city of Tianjin kill at least 17 and injure hundredsRelated: Explosions in Chinese city of Tianjin kill at least 17 and injure hundreds