This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-33900268
The article has changed 14 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 12 | Version 13 |
|---|---|
| China explosions: Dozens killed in Tianjin port blasts | China explosions: Dozens killed in Tianjin port blasts |
| (4 days later) | |
| The massive explosions in China's northern city of Tianjin are now known to have killed at least 50 people. | The massive explosions in China's northern city of Tianjin are now known to have killed at least 50 people. |
| More than 700 have been injured and hospitals are struggling to cope with the number of casualties. | More than 700 have been injured and hospitals are struggling to cope with the number of casualties. |
| The blasts, at a warehouse storing toxic chemicals, destroyed tower blocks and burned out thousands of cars. The fireball could be seen from space. | The blasts, at a warehouse storing toxic chemicals, destroyed tower blocks and burned out thousands of cars. The fireball could be seen from space. |
| Twelve firefighters are among those who lost their lives; 36 of their colleagues are still missing. | Twelve firefighters are among those who lost their lives; 36 of their colleagues are still missing. |
| Tianjin is one of China's most important industrial centres, and one of the busiest ports in the world. | Tianjin is one of China's most important industrial centres, and one of the busiest ports in the world. |
| President Xi Jinping has promised a thorough investigation into what happened and "transparent information disclosure to the public," Xinhua news agency reports. | President Xi Jinping has promised a thorough investigation into what happened and "transparent information disclosure to the public," Xinhua news agency reports. |
| What we know about explosions | What we know about explosions |
| Tianjin in profile | Tianjin in profile |
| 'Seismic scale' of blasts | 'Seismic scale' of blasts |
| Travelling into the blast zone | Travelling into the blast zone |
| The first explosion occurred at about 23:30 local time (15:30 GMT) on Wednesday in Tianjin's Binhai New Area, a vast industrial zone which houses car factories, aircraft assembly lines and other manufacturing and research firms. | The first explosion occurred at about 23:30 local time (15:30 GMT) on Wednesday in Tianjin's Binhai New Area, a vast industrial zone which houses car factories, aircraft assembly lines and other manufacturing and research firms. |
| The blast was followed seconds later by another, more powerful blast, and a series of smaller explosions. | The blast was followed seconds later by another, more powerful blast, and a series of smaller explosions. |
| Broken and buckled shipping containers litter the site and vast areas of the port have been devastated. | Broken and buckled shipping containers litter the site and vast areas of the port have been devastated. |
| Buildings within a 2km radius (1.5 miles) had windows blown out and office blocks were destroyed. | Buildings within a 2km radius (1.5 miles) had windows blown out and office blocks were destroyed. |
| The impact of the blasts could be felt several kilometres away, and was detected by a US Geological Survey monitoring unit in Beijing 160km (100 miles) away. | The impact of the blasts could be felt several kilometres away, and was detected by a US Geological Survey monitoring unit in Beijing 160km (100 miles) away. |
| Blast 'like end of the world' | Blast 'like end of the world' |
| Pictures reveal devastation | Pictures reveal devastation |
| Netizens' critical of blast coverage silenced | Netizens' critical of blast coverage silenced |
| State media reported that firefighters arrived at the port at 23:06 local time (15:06 GMT) as containers were on fire; another batch of firefighters arrived at around 23:16, 14 minutes before the first explosion. | State media reported that firefighters arrived at the port at 23:06 local time (15:06 GMT) as containers were on fire; another batch of firefighters arrived at around 23:16, 14 minutes before the first explosion. |
| Reports in Chinese media said the blasts happened after a shipment of explosives detonated in a warehouse owned by Ruihai Logistics, a company that specialises in handling dangerous and toxic chemicals. | Reports in Chinese media said the blasts happened after a shipment of explosives detonated in a warehouse owned by Ruihai Logistics, a company that specialises in handling dangerous and toxic chemicals. |
| State broadcaster China Central Television (CCTV) said at least one person from the "relevant company" had been detained for questioning. | State broadcaster China Central Television (CCTV) said at least one person from the "relevant company" had been detained for questioning. |
| The warehouse was designed to store chemicals including sodium cyanide, butanone and toluene diisocyanate, as well as compressed natural gas and other flammable substances. | The warehouse was designed to store chemicals including sodium cyanide, butanone and toluene diisocyanate, as well as compressed natural gas and other flammable substances. |
| The head of Tianjin's environmental protection bureau, Wen Wurui, said pollution levels were being monitored. | The head of Tianjin's environmental protection bureau, Wen Wurui, said pollution levels were being monitored. |
| "It would be harmful if you breathe in [this toxic air] for a long time," he said. | "It would be harmful if you breathe in [this toxic air] for a long time," he said. |
| "But at present, it has not exceeded [the standard] too much based on our monitoring." | "But at present, it has not exceeded [the standard] too much based on our monitoring." |
| The BBC's John Sudworth, in Tianjin, said thick, acrid smoke can be seen still billowing from the site, and the burning taste hangs heavy in the air. | The BBC's John Sudworth, in Tianjin, said thick, acrid smoke can be seen still billowing from the site, and the burning taste hangs heavy in the air. |
| "I heard the first explosion and everyone went outside, then there was a series of more explosions, windows shattered and a lot of people who were inside were hurt and came running out, bleeding," 27-year-old Huang Shiting, who lives close to the site, told AFP. | "I heard the first explosion and everyone went outside, then there was a series of more explosions, windows shattered and a lot of people who were inside were hurt and came running out, bleeding," 27-year-old Huang Shiting, who lives close to the site, told AFP. |
| Injured 10-year-old Mei Xiaoya told AFP that she and her mother were turned away from the first hospital they went to, seeking treatment, as it was full. | Injured 10-year-old Mei Xiaoya told AFP that she and her mother were turned away from the first hospital they went to, seeking treatment, as it was full. |
| "I'm not afraid, it's just a scratch," she said, "but mum was hurt badly, she couldn't open her eyes." | "I'm not afraid, it's just a scratch," she said, "but mum was hurt badly, she couldn't open her eyes." |
| The blast ripped apart a nearby dormitory for migrant workers, who were forced to flee the collapsing building. | The blast ripped apart a nearby dormitory for migrant workers, who were forced to flee the collapsing building. |
| "I rolled off the bed after the first shockwave hit, so I scrambled to run for my life," said resident Dan Agio. | "I rolled off the bed after the first shockwave hit, so I scrambled to run for my life," said resident Dan Agio. |
| "When I reached downstairs the second blast happened. It's as if the sky collapsed. In a blink of an eye, the roof fell." | "When I reached downstairs the second blast happened. It's as if the sky collapsed. In a blink of an eye, the roof fell." |
| The editor of the BBC's Chinese Service, Raymond Li, points out that almost 24 hours after the explosions the cause still is not known. | The editor of the BBC's Chinese Service, Raymond Li, points out that almost 24 hours after the explosions the cause still is not known. |
| Just a few days ago city officials visited the industrial site to discuss safety standards, he says. | Just a few days ago city officials visited the industrial site to discuss safety standards, he says. |