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| China explosion: Tianjin death toll rises in port blasts | China explosion: Tianjin death toll rises in port blasts |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| At least 44 people are now known to have died, and more than 500 injured, following two major explosions in China's northern port city of Tianjin. | At least 44 people are now known to have died, and more than 500 injured, following two major explosions in China's northern port city of Tianjin. |
| Twelve firefighters were among the dead, China's official Xinhua news agency said as it reported a doubling of the death toll. | Twelve firefighters were among the dead, China's official Xinhua news agency said as it reported a doubling of the death toll. |
| Two blasts happened in a warehouse storing "dangerous and chemical goods" in the port area of the city. | Two blasts happened in a warehouse storing "dangerous and chemical goods" in the port area of the city. |
| They caused a huge fireball that could be seen from space. | |
| Buildings within a 2km radius (1.5 miles) had windows blown out, office blocks were destroyed and hundreds of cars burnt-out. | Buildings within a 2km radius (1.5 miles) had windows blown out, office blocks were destroyed and hundreds of cars burnt-out. |
| Images on Chinese media showed local residents and workers fleeing their homes, some of them covered in blood from broken glass and flying debris. | Images on Chinese media showed local residents and workers fleeing their homes, some of them covered in blood from broken glass and flying debris. |
| As of 12:00 local time (04:00 GMT), 44 people had died and a total of 520 people had been hospitalised, including 66 in a critical condition, Xinhua reported. | As of 12:00 local time (04:00 GMT), 44 people had died and a total of 520 people had been hospitalised, including 66 in a critical condition, Xinhua reported. |
| At the scene: John Sudworth, BBC News, Tianjin | At the scene: John Sudworth, BBC News, Tianjin |
| The apartment complex closest to the explosion has eight rows of high-rise tower blocks. | The apartment complex closest to the explosion has eight rows of high-rise tower blocks. |
| In every one of them, almost every window has been blown out. On the ground outside are the signs of the many families who have fled from their beds in a hurry - a woman's shoe, children's toys, mangled bicycles. | In every one of them, almost every window has been blown out. On the ground outside are the signs of the many families who have fled from their beds in a hurry - a woman's shoe, children's toys, mangled bicycles. |
| There would have been many injured here. Inside the homes, furniture has been picked up as if by a whirlwind and interior doors lie at angles, ripped off their hinges. | There would have been many injured here. Inside the homes, furniture has been picked up as if by a whirlwind and interior doors lie at angles, ripped off their hinges. |
| Travelling into Tianjin blast zone | Travelling into Tianjin blast zone |
| Blast 'like end of the world' | Blast 'like end of the world' |
| Tianjin pictures reveal devastation | Tianjin pictures reveal devastation |
| The first explosion occurred at about 23:30 local time (15:30 GMT) on Wednesday, followed seconds later by another, more powerful blast and a series of smaller explosions. | |
| The impact of the blasts could be felt several kilometres away, and was registered as seismic activity at a US Geological Survey monitoring unit in Beijing 160km (100 miles) away. | |
| The China Earthquake Networks Centre said the magnitude of the first explosion was the equivalent of detonating three tonnes of TNT, while the second was the equivalent of 21 tonnes. | The China Earthquake Networks Centre said the magnitude of the first explosion was the equivalent of detonating three tonnes of TNT, while the second was the equivalent of 21 tonnes. |
| One witness, named only as Ms Yang, told local media she was out shopping when "suddenly from behind there was a big fireball and explosion". | One witness, named only as Ms Yang, told local media she was out shopping when "suddenly from behind there was a big fireball and explosion". |
| "At the time of the explosion the ground was shaking fiercely, nearby cars and buildings were shaking, glass from a few buildings all broke and everyone started to run," she said. | "At the time of the explosion the ground was shaking fiercely, nearby cars and buildings were shaking, glass from a few buildings all broke and everyone started to run," she said. |
| "It was like what we were told a nuclear bomb would be like,'' truck driver Zhao Zhencheng told the AP news agency. "I've never even thought I'd see such a thing. It was terrifying, but also beautiful.'' | "It was like what we were told a nuclear bomb would be like,'' truck driver Zhao Zhencheng told the AP news agency. "I've never even thought I'd see such a thing. It was terrifying, but also beautiful.'' |
| Another witness, Canadian teacher Monica Andrews, told how she woke in panic after what she thought was an earthquake. | Another witness, Canadian teacher Monica Andrews, told how she woke in panic after what she thought was an earthquake. |
| "I... looked out the window and the sky was red. I just watched a second explosion go off and [it was] just pure chaos, everyone leaving their apartment buildings thinking it's an earthquake, cars trying to leave the complex. It was crazy," she told the BBC. | "I... looked out the window and the sky was red. I just watched a second explosion go off and [it was] just pure chaos, everyone leaving their apartment buildings thinking it's an earthquake, cars trying to leave the complex. It was crazy," she told the BBC. |
| Around 1,000 firefighters, along with 140 fire engines, spent the night tackling the flames. | |
| A number were reportedly already on the scene at the time of the explosions, having been called out to earlier reports of a fire in the area. | |
| There was an outpouring of support for them on social media, amid reports that 36 firefighters remain missing, and a further 33 are being treated in nearby hospitals. | |
| State broadcaster China Central Television (CCTV) said a shipment of explosives had detonated, causing the massive blasts, but this has not yet been confirmed. | |
| Senior managers of Ruihai Logistics, which owns the warehouse where the explosion happened, are being questioned by authorities, state media report. | |
| President Xi Jinping has promised a thorough investigation in what happened and "transparent information disclosure to the public," Xinhua reports. | |
| There has been some criticism in Chinese media that a warehouse containing such dangerous chemicals should have been sited near a main road, housing complexes and office blocks. | |
| Tianjin, home to some 15 million people, is a major port and industrial area to the south-east of the Chinese capital, Beijing. | Tianjin, home to some 15 million people, is a major port and industrial area to the south-east of the Chinese capital, Beijing. |
| Are you in Tianjin? Did you witness the explosion? You can share your story by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Are you in Tianjin? Did you witness the explosion? You can share your story by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
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