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China explosions: Fires still burning after Tianjin blasts China explosions: Fires still burning after Tianjin blasts
(35 minutes later)
Fires are still burning at the site of two massive explosions in the Chinese city of Tianjin, some 36 hours after the blasts.Fires are still burning at the site of two massive explosions in the Chinese city of Tianjin, some 36 hours after the blasts.
A team of military chemical experts is testing for toxic gases at the scene and rescuers have been ordered to wear protective clothing, state media said. Military chemical experts are testing for toxic gases and rescuers have been told to wear protective clothing.
At least 55 people died and more than 700 were injured, 71 critically, in the explosions on Wednesday evening. At least 56 people died and more than 720 were injured, 25 critically, in the explosions late on Wednesday evening, according to state media.
Meanwhile, search teams found a survivor in the debris on Friday. But search teams found a survivor in the debris early on Friday.
The survivor pulled out from the rubble 32 hours after the blast was named as 19-year-old firefighter Zhou Ti, state-run news agency Xinhua reported. The man pulled from the rubble 32 hours after the blast was named as 19-year-old firefighter Zhou Ti, state-run news agency Xinhua reported.
Officials said earlier that 17 firefighters were among the dead and 18 others are said to be missing. Twenty-one firefighters are reported to be among the dead and several more are missing. Fire crews were already at the site when the explosions took place, having been called out after reports of a container fire.
Fire crews were already at the site when the explosions took place, having been called to reports of a container fire.
Tianjin's fire department chief Zhou Tian told reporters that more than 1,000 firefighters and 140 fire engines were still battling flames at the scene on Friday.Tianjin's fire department chief Zhou Tian told reporters that more than 1,000 firefighters and 140 fire engines were still battling flames at the scene on Friday.
The Tianjin Port Group Company said dozens of its employees remained unaccounted for, Xinhua said. The Tianjin Port Group Company said dozens of its employees remained unaccounted for, according to Xinhua.
The warehouse that exploded in the port area is owned by a company called Ruihai Logistics, which specialises in handling hazardous goods.The warehouse that exploded in the port area is owned by a company called Ruihai Logistics, which specialises in handling hazardous goods.
The company's website says these goods include compressed gas, flammable liquid and toxic chemicals - some of which become highly explosive when mixed with water. The company's website says these include compressed gas, flammable liquid and toxic chemicals - some of which become highly explosive when mixed with water.
But city officials said on Friday they still did not know what materials were at the warehouse at the time of the fire, or what the cause of the blasts was. But city officials said on Friday they still did not know what materials were at the warehouse at the time of the fire, or what caused the blasts.
Gao Huaiyou, deputy director of Tianjin's work safety watchdog, said there were discrepancies between accounts by company and customs officials, adding that damage to company offices made it hard to identify the chemicals.Gao Huaiyou, deputy director of Tianjin's work safety watchdog, said there were discrepancies between accounts by company and customs officials, adding that damage to company offices made it hard to identify the chemicals.
The BBC's John Sudworth in Tianjin says that once the fire is extinguished, the chemical containers will be moved to a safety zone, away from the heat, so that the contents can be analysed.The BBC's John Sudworth in Tianjin says that once the fire is extinguished, the chemical containers will be moved to a safety zone, away from the heat, so that the contents can be analysed.
Tianjin's residents remain nervous, he adds, with some posting concerns online about the environmental impact and suspicions that the public may not be hearing the full truth.Tianjin's residents remain nervous, he adds, with some posting concerns online about the environmental impact and suspicions that the public may not be hearing the full truth.
The head of Tianjin's environmental protection bureau, Wen Wurui, said pollution levels were being monitored and other officials insisted any contaminants had been contained.The head of Tianjin's environmental protection bureau, Wen Wurui, said pollution levels were being monitored and other officials insisted any contaminants had been contained.
Fires are still sending plumes of smoke over the destroyed buildings, burned-out vehicles and crumpled shipping containers that bore the brunt of the explosions.Fires are still sending plumes of smoke over the destroyed buildings, burned-out vehicles and crumpled shipping containers that bore the brunt of the explosions.
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The People's Daily, the official newspaper of the Chinese Communist Party, said that emergency services were "trying to remove all the 700 tonnes of sodium cyanide" stored at the site.The People's Daily, the official newspaper of the Chinese Communist Party, said that emergency services were "trying to remove all the 700 tonnes of sodium cyanide" stored at the site.
The local fire chief said further recovery efforts would be slow because of the potentially complex mix of chemicals at the site.The local fire chief said further recovery efforts would be slow because of the potentially complex mix of chemicals at the site.
"Many types of different materials with different characteristics are mixed together and could at any time result in a chemical reaction or explosion,'' Zhou Tian said."Many types of different materials with different characteristics are mixed together and could at any time result in a chemical reaction or explosion,'' Zhou Tian said.
The People's Daily said the facility had "clearly violated" safety rules that say dangerous materials must be stored at least 1km (0.6 miles) away from public buildings and main roads.The People's Daily said the facility had "clearly violated" safety rules that say dangerous materials must be stored at least 1km (0.6 miles) away from public buildings and main roads.
State media said the manager of the Ruihai Logistics site had been detained.State media said the manager of the Ruihai Logistics site had been detained.
Meanwhile, the government said nationwide safety inspections would be carried out on industrial sites in a bid to learn the "extremely profound" lessons from the tragedy.Meanwhile, the government said nationwide safety inspections would be carried out on industrial sites in a bid to learn the "extremely profound" lessons from the tragedy.
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has promised "open and transparent information disclosure" on the investigation.Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has promised "open and transparent information disclosure" on the investigation.
The two explosions, seconds apart, caused a fireball visible from space and a shockwave that damaged buildings within a 2km radius (1.5 miles). The second of the blasts was the equivalent of 21 tonnes of TNT.The two explosions, seconds apart, caused a fireball visible from space and a shockwave that damaged buildings within a 2km radius (1.5 miles). The second of the blasts was the equivalent of 21 tonnes of TNT.
More than 3,500 residents made homeless by the blasts spent the night in temporary shelters.More than 3,500 residents made homeless by the blasts spent the night in temporary shelters.