This article is from the source 'nytimes' 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.nytimes.com/2015/08/14/world/asia/tianjin-china-explosions.html

The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 6 Version 7
Tianjin Explosions Point to Risk of Storing Toxic Chemicals As Fire Smolders in Tianjin Officials Rush to Stanch Criticism
(about 1 hour later)
TIANJIN, China — Chinese leaders scrambled on Thursday to contain the fallout from an apocalyptic fire in this major port city that appeared to reflect an enormous regulatory failure, caused by a witch’s brew of toxic chemicals housed within a mile of thickly populated areas.TIANJIN, China — Chinese leaders scrambled on Thursday to contain the fallout from an apocalyptic fire in this major port city that appeared to reflect an enormous regulatory failure, caused by a witch’s brew of toxic chemicals housed within a mile of thickly populated areas.
President Xi Jinping personally ordered subordinates to ensure that all unaccounted-for victims were found after the Wednesday night disaster, and the army sent more than 200 hazardous-chemical specialists in protective suits to investigate.President Xi Jinping personally ordered subordinates to ensure that all unaccounted-for victims were found after the Wednesday night disaster, and the army sent more than 200 hazardous-chemical specialists in protective suits to investigate.
But the authorities also sought to constrict the flow of information as many traumatized citizens seethed over how such a disaster could happen and expressed frustration over what they called a lack of reliable guidance before or after the fire.But the authorities also sought to constrict the flow of information as many traumatized citizens seethed over how such a disaster could happen and expressed frustration over what they called a lack of reliable guidance before or after the fire.
They wondered if even the air was safe because of the smoke, still billowing hours later from vestiges of the inferno, which destroyed an industrial zone near the port. Many people wore masks.They wondered if even the air was safe because of the smoke, still billowing hours later from vestiges of the inferno, which destroyed an industrial zone near the port. Many people wore masks.
“Right now, we don’t know anything,” said Sun Meirong, 52, an office cleaner who descended 13 flights of stairs with her 1-year-old grandson after the explosions blew in her apartment windows and front door.“Right now, we don’t know anything,” said Sun Meirong, 52, an office cleaner who descended 13 flights of stairs with her 1-year-old grandson after the explosions blew in her apartment windows and front door.
“There were two or three thousand people living in that neighborhood, and they could have been notified earlier to evacuate,” said Wang Dong, 55, a taxi driver who was struck in the head when his apartment door violently unhinged. “I’m not sure why they did nothing at all to alert us.”“There were two or three thousand people living in that neighborhood, and they could have been notified earlier to evacuate,” said Wang Dong, 55, a taxi driver who was struck in the head when his apartment door violently unhinged. “I’m not sure why they did nothing at all to alert us.”
Questions loomed over the precise reasons the chemicals had ignited, detonating in frightening fireballs that registered on earthquake scales, engulfed hundreds of new cars awaiting export and shattered windows in high-rises a mile away.Questions loomed over the precise reasons the chemicals had ignited, detonating in frightening fireballs that registered on earthquake scales, engulfed hundreds of new cars awaiting export and shattered windows in high-rises a mile away.
Thursday evening, the authorities said at least 50 people had died, including 12 firefighters, with hundreds hospitalized.Thursday evening, the authorities said at least 50 people had died, including 12 firefighters, with hundreds hospitalized.
At least one chemical known to have been stockpiled at the site, calcium carbide, can emit flammable gases when it becomes wet. Some outside experts speculated that firefighters, in their effort to douse the flames, may have inadvertently contributed to the explosions.At least one chemical known to have been stockpiled at the site, calcium carbide, can emit flammable gases when it becomes wet. Some outside experts speculated that firefighters, in their effort to douse the flames, may have inadvertently contributed to the explosions.
“If enough water gets in there, calcium carbide is going to very quickly decompose,” said Chris Weber, president and chief executive of Dr. Hazmat Inc., a hazardous-chemical consulting concern in Longmont, Colo. “The most likely and most violent reaction would be the calcium carbide.”“If enough water gets in there, calcium carbide is going to very quickly decompose,” said Chris Weber, president and chief executive of Dr. Hazmat Inc., a hazardous-chemical consulting concern in Longmont, Colo. “The most likely and most violent reaction would be the calcium carbide.”
Many hospital patients were injured by shattered glass. Throughout the day, hundreds of others lined up to donate blood in the wilting heat.Many hospital patients were injured by shattered glass. Throughout the day, hundreds of others lined up to donate blood in the wilting heat.
The disaster began late Wednesday, when firefighters in Tianjin’s Binhai district responded to reports of a blaze at the chemical storage site, run by Ruihai International Logistics. State news media and government officials said it was a four-year-old company that unloads and stores hazardous cargo.The disaster began late Wednesday, when firefighters in Tianjin’s Binhai district responded to reports of a blaze at the chemical storage site, run by Ruihai International Logistics. State news media and government officials said it was a four-year-old company that unloads and stores hazardous cargo.
On Thursday afternoon, the site still smoldered as Tianjin officials, unsure about the nature of the chemicals, let the blaze extinguish on its own.On Thursday afternoon, the site still smoldered as Tianjin officials, unsure about the nature of the chemicals, let the blaze extinguish on its own.
The devastation was worst in the port area, a sparsely populated expanse of warehouses and parking lots nearly 40 miles from the heart of Tianjin. Had the blast occurred during the day, the death toll would have most likely been far higher. Favorable winds on Thursday may also have shielded residents from greater harm by blowing much of the toxic plume toward the Bohai Sea.The devastation was worst in the port area, a sparsely populated expanse of warehouses and parking lots nearly 40 miles from the heart of Tianjin. Had the blast occurred during the day, the death toll would have most likely been far higher. Favorable winds on Thursday may also have shielded residents from greater harm by blowing much of the toxic plume toward the Bohai Sea.
Ruihai’s website was inaccessible, and calls to the company were met with a busy signal. Also inaccessible was the website for the Tianjin Administration for Industry and Commerce, the agency that collects information about companies, their executives and shareholders. In a social media post, the agency said the blast had forced it to close temporarily.Ruihai’s website was inaccessible, and calls to the company were met with a busy signal. Also inaccessible was the website for the Tianjin Administration for Industry and Commerce, the agency that collects information about companies, their executives and shareholders. In a social media post, the agency said the blast had forced it to close temporarily.
According to the Tianjin Tanggu Environmental Monitoring Station, calcium carbide was one of several toxic industrial chemicals stored by the company. The others included sodium cyanide, which can produce hydrogen cyanide, a volatile and flammable liquid; and toluene diisocyanate, which can also react violently in the presence of water.According to the Tianjin Tanggu Environmental Monitoring Station, calcium carbide was one of several toxic industrial chemicals stored by the company. The others included sodium cyanide, which can produce hydrogen cyanide, a volatile and flammable liquid; and toluene diisocyanate, which can also react violently in the presence of water.
The company was also licensed to handle highly combustible substances such as compressed and liquefied natural gas.The company was also licensed to handle highly combustible substances such as compressed and liquefied natural gas.
In a statement on Thursday, Greenpeace warned that the chemicals threatened human health. It said that sodium cyanide, used in mining, is especially toxic, while toluene diisocyanate, used to make polyurethane products, is a carcinogen.In a statement on Thursday, Greenpeace warned that the chemicals threatened human health. It said that sodium cyanide, used in mining, is especially toxic, while toluene diisocyanate, used to make polyurethane products, is a carcinogen.
With rain forecast for Friday, Greenpeace also warned about the danger of airborne pollutants seeping into groundwater.With rain forecast for Friday, Greenpeace also warned about the danger of airborne pollutants seeping into groundwater.
At a news conference on Thursday afternoon, Wen Wurui, a senior environmental official, played down the threat of contaminated air, saying emission readings had dropped to safe levels.At a news conference on Thursday afternoon, Wen Wurui, a senior environmental official, played down the threat of contaminated air, saying emission readings had dropped to safe levels.
The Tianjin Internet Police issued a warning that those who spread rumors about the fire would be “severely dealt with according to the law.”The Tianjin Internet Police issued a warning that those who spread rumors about the fire would be “severely dealt with according to the law.”
Comments on social media criticizing the government were promptly deleted, and for much of the day the city’s main news channel played Korean soap operas, prompting ridicule on social media.Comments on social media criticizing the government were promptly deleted, and for much of the day the city’s main news channel played Korean soap operas, prompting ridicule on social media.
One man who claimed to be an employee of the channel, Tianjin TV, took the rare step of openly castigating the government on social media. The man said that the station had sent 100 reporters into the field but that only central government news accounts could be used.One man who claimed to be an employee of the channel, Tianjin TV, took the rare step of openly castigating the government on social media. The man said that the station had sent 100 reporters into the field but that only central government news accounts could be used.
Middle-class Chinese, increasingly aware of the perils of urban chemical plants and storage depots, have in recent years organized huge street protests demanding that such facilities be relocated.Middle-class Chinese, increasingly aware of the perils of urban chemical plants and storage depots, have in recent years organized huge street protests demanding that such facilities be relocated.
It appears that officials in Tianjin were aware of the risks. In recent weeks, officials with the city’s Administration of Work Safety met with local chemical companies and asked them to ensure the safety of their premises, citing summer weather that included “extreme heat, high humidity and heavy rain,” according to an Aug. 6 posting on the agency’s website.It appears that officials in Tianjin were aware of the risks. In recent weeks, officials with the city’s Administration of Work Safety met with local chemical companies and asked them to ensure the safety of their premises, citing summer weather that included “extreme heat, high humidity and heavy rain,” according to an Aug. 6 posting on the agency’s website.