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Rising Anger but Few Answers After Explosions in Tianjin Few Answers and Rising Death Toll After Tianjin Explosions
(35 minutes later)
TIANJIN, China — With plumes of toxic smoke still hovering on the horizon, officials of this port city near Beijing were scrambling on Friday to understand what caused the calamitous blasts that killed dozens of people this week, even as questions persisted about why the authorities had allowed a company that handled dangerous chemicals to operate so close to residential areas.TIANJIN, China — With plumes of toxic smoke still hovering on the horizon, officials of this port city near Beijing were scrambling on Friday to understand what caused the calamitous blasts that killed dozens of people this week, even as questions persisted about why the authorities had allowed a company that handled dangerous chemicals to operate so close to residential areas.
The death toll climbed to 56 on Friday, but it was expected to rise further as emergency workers combed the wreckage for the remains of victims of the two huge explosions on Wednesday night, at least 21 of them firefighters.The death toll climbed to 56 on Friday, but it was expected to rise further as emergency workers combed the wreckage for the remains of victims of the two huge explosions on Wednesday night, at least 21 of them firefighters.
The blasts engulfed office buildings and port facilities, as well as onlookers who had gathered to watch the firefighters at work.The blasts engulfed office buildings and port facilities, as well as onlookers who had gathered to watch the firefighters at work.
In a rare bit of good news, the state media on Friday reported that rescue workers had found an injured firefighter at the scene more than a full day after a pair of spectacular fireballs lit up the night sky and percussive blasts shattered windows more than a mile away. The flames and flying debris injured more than 700 people, at least 70 of them critically, according to the state media. In a rare bit of good news, the state news media on Friday reported that rescue workers had found an injured firefighter at the scene more than a full day after a pair of spectacular fireballs lit up the night sky and percussive blasts shattered windows more than a mile away. The flames and flying debris injured more than 700 people, at least 70 of them critically, according to the state news media.
With censors seeking to control the flow of information about the disaster, the information vacuum was filled by online speculation about the owners of Rui Hai International Logistics, the company that owned the warehouse where the blasts occurred, and whether they might be connected to senior government leaders. With censors seeking to control the flow of information, the vacuum was filled by online speculation about the owners of Rui Hai International Logistics, the company that owned the warehouse where the blasts occurred, and whether they might be connected to senior government leaders.
The government’s online corporate registry for Tianjin remained offline nearly two days after the disaster, fueling concerns about a possible cover-up. Officials have said that the blasts disabled the website, which lists details about corporate ownership.The government’s online corporate registry for Tianjin remained offline nearly two days after the disaster, fueling concerns about a possible cover-up. Officials have said that the blasts disabled the website, which lists details about corporate ownership.
Throughout the day, explosions shook the site, including a series of small blasts at dusk that sent columns of alternately black and white smoke into the air.Throughout the day, explosions shook the site, including a series of small blasts at dusk that sent columns of alternately black and white smoke into the air.
Several Chinese news outlets appeared to be defying a central government ban on independent reporting, and officials in Tianjin, China’s third-largest city, appeared to have been unprepared for tough questions about the disaster. On Friday, flustered officials abruptly ended a news conference that had been called to discuss it. Several Chinese news outlets appeared to be defying a central government ban on independent reporting, and officials in Tianjin appeared to have been unprepared for tough questions about the disaster. On Friday, flustered officials abruptly ended a news conference.
The blasts on Wednesday night were preceded by a modest fire at the warehouse, and questions have also been raised about whether the hundreds of firefighters who raced to the scene had been aware of the potential hazards, and about whether they were trained to combat complex and volatile chemical fires. At least a dozen of the missing are firefighters, according to the official Xinhua news agency. The blasts on Wednesday night were preceded by a modest fire at the warehouse. Questions have been raised about whether the hundreds of firefighters who raced to the scene had been aware of the potential hazards, and about whether they were trained to combat complex and volatile chemical fires.
According to media reports, about 700 tons of sodium cyanide, a compound that releases highly toxic gas, were stored at the warehouse. The facility was also licensed to handle calcium carbide, a dangerous compound known to release flammable gases when mixed with water. According to news reports, about 700 tons of sodium cyanide, a compound that releases highly toxic gas, were stored at the warehouse. The site was also licensed to handle calcium carbide, a dangerous compound known to release flammable gases when mixed with water.
One fire official told The Paper, an online Chinese publication, that water might have been used to douse the initial fire, which reportedly involved one or more vehicles. Southern Weekly, a newspaper known for occasional muckraking reporting, quoted a firefighter who said he had received no instructions about the risks of spraying water on the fire.One fire official told The Paper, an online Chinese publication, that water might have been used to douse the initial fire, which reportedly involved one or more vehicles. Southern Weekly, a newspaper known for occasional muckraking reporting, quoted a firefighter who said he had received no instructions about the risks of spraying water on the fire.
During a news conference on Thursday, another fire official, Zhou Tian, said that the first fire brigade to reach the scene had been trying to determine the contents of the warehouse, and that a second brigade had arrived moments before the explosions occurred. “They were caught off guard, so the injuries are grave,” he said.During a news conference on Thursday, another fire official, Zhou Tian, said that the first fire brigade to reach the scene had been trying to determine the contents of the warehouse, and that a second brigade had arrived moments before the explosions occurred. “They were caught off guard, so the injuries are grave,” he said.
Officials have been unable to determine exactly what kinds of chemicals were being stored at the site, saying that the company had provided them with conflicting accounts. Earlier reports in the state media said that senior company managers had been detained for questioning. Officials have been unable to determine exactly what kinds of chemicals were being stored at the site, saying that the company had provided them with conflicting accounts. Earlier reports in the state news media said that senior company managers had been detained for questioning.
On Friday, bulldozer operators dispatched by the local railroad company were helping clear paths through an otherworldly jumble of scorched vehicles and battered shipping containers. Nearby, a cordon of paramilitary police officers wearing face masks prevented people from returning to their homes at Vanke Port City, a high-rise apartment complex perilously close to the site of the blasts. On Friday, bulldozer operators sent by the local railroad company were helping clear paths through an otherworldly jumble of scorched vehicles and battered shipping containers. Nearby, a cordon of paramilitary police officers wearing face masks prevented people from returning to their homes at Vanke Port City, a high-rise apartment complex perilously close to the site of the blasts.
“I haven’t changed my clothes in three days,” said one resident, Yuan Ping, 30, a telecommunications worker who described how she lost the family dog as she and her family scrambled to safety the night of the explosions. “A police officer told me the air inside was so toxic that my dog was probably dead.” “I haven’t changed my clothes in three days,” said one resident, Yuan Ping, 30, a telecommunications worker who described how she lost her dog as she and her family scrambled to safety on the night of the explosions. “A police officer told me the air inside was so toxic that my dog was probably dead.”
With about 6,000 residents forced from their homes and countless others unsure whether it was safe to breathe the air, government officials struggled to reassure the public that there was little danger. On Friday, they acknowledged that sodium cyanide had been found in sewer pipes under the Binhai district port, but they said that workers had shut the drains, ensuring that none of the chemical would seep into the adjacent Bohai Bay. With roughly 6,000 residents forced from their homes and countless others unsure about whether it was safe to breathe the air, government officials struggled to reassure the public that there was little danger. On Friday, they acknowledged that sodium cyanide had been found in sewer pipes under a port, but they said that workers had shut the drains, ensuring that none of the chemical would seep into the adjacent Bohai Bay.
According to the Beijing News, Rui Hai, the company that owns the warehouse, had at one point submitted documents saying it did not handle dangerous chemicals, but claimed in a subsequent filing that it had received the required permission from port officials. According to The Beijing News, Rui Hai had at one point submitted documents saying it did not handle dangerous chemicals, but claimed in a subsequent filing that it had received the required permission from port officials.
The newspaper, quoting a deputy manager at Rui Hai, said workers were unsure what was stored at the facility, a way station for chemicals awaiting export or transport to other parts of the country. Another employee told China National Radio that workers had received no special training on how to handle dangerous cargo. The newspaper, quoting a deputy manager at Rui Hai, said workers were unsure what was stored at the site, a way station for chemicals awaiting export or transport to other parts of the country. Another employee told China National Radio that workers had received no special training on how to handle dangerous cargo.
Local residents have said they had no idea that the port facility in their backyard posed any risk. The developers of Vanke Port City, which is less than 2,000 feet from the blast site, said they were told when they started construction in 2010 that the warehouse handled only “common goods.” Local residents have said they had no idea that the site posed any risk. The developers of Vanke Port City, which is less than 2,000 feet from the blast site, said they were told when they started construction in 2010 that the warehouse handled only “common goods.”
“We were never notified that the warehouses were modified to handle dangerous goods,” a spokesman for the developer said in an email.“We were never notified that the warehouses were modified to handle dangerous goods,” a spokesman for the developer said in an email.
According to Chinese law, facilities that handle hazardous materials must be located more than 3,200 feet from homes and public buildings. According to Chinese law, facilities that handle hazardous materials must be more than 3,200 feet from homes and public buildings.
China has a grim record of deadly industrial accidents, including an explosion at a car parts factory near Shanghai last August that killed 163 workers and injured nearly 100 others.China has a grim record of deadly industrial accidents, including an explosion at a car parts factory near Shanghai last August that killed 163 workers and injured nearly 100 others.
Cheng Qian, a toxics campaign manager at Greenpeace, said Chinese laws regarding the construction of chemical facilities were confusing and riddled with loopholes, and added that 10 government ministries had a role in managing hazardous industries. “Tianjin is an advanced industrial area, but what about elsewhere?” she asked. “What’s required is a really good system that functions.” Cheng Qian of Greenpeace said that Chinese laws regarding the construction of chemical facilities were confusing and riddled with loopholes, and she added that 10 government ministries had a role in managing hazardous industries.
“Tianjin is an advanced industrial area, but what about elsewhere?” she asked. “What’s required is a really good system that functions.”