This article is from the source 'guardian' 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.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/15/tianjin-blasts-police-order-mass-evacuations-amid-further-explosions

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

Version 1 Version 2
Tianjin blasts: police order mass evacuations amid further explosions Tianjin blasts: police order mass evacuations amid further explosions
(35 minutes later)
Armed police are evacuating everyone within 3km of the Tianjin blast site as seven to eight explosions raised fears of yet more casualties on Saturday, Beijing News has reported. Armed police are evacuating everyone within three kilometres of the Tianjin blast site in China after fires reignited and seven to eight explosions rocked the area on Saturday, local media reported.
Hundreds of evacuees housed at a temporary shelter in a nearby primary school for the homeless were also being moved away, Beijing News reported. Hundreds of evacuees housed at a temporary shelter in a nearby primary school for the homeless were also being moved away, amid fears that highly toxic chemical sodium cyanide discovered at the site could lead to more casualties.
Fires broke out at 11.40am on Saturday at the Tianjin blast site according to state media outlet Xinhua. Thick smoke and seven to eight blasts from at least three separate locations were reported to have been heard at the scene. “Out of consideration for toxic substances spreading, the masses nearby have been asked to evacuate,” Xinhua said.
At 11am police saying they were acting on “orders from higher authorities” began instructing people within 2km of the epicentre to be promptly evacuated, said the Beijing News. “No people or vehicle allowed within the area” the police officer reportedly said. Fires broke out at 11.40am on Saturday at the Tianjin blast site, according to state media outlet Xinhua. Thick smoke and seven to eight blasts from at least three separate locations were heard at the scene. State broadcaster CCTV reported several cars had exploded in the nearby car park.
According to the same report, a member of the People’s Armed Police told the Beijing News reporter that sodium cyanide had been discovered in the warehouse contents. Experts are now handling the chemical while the evacuation continues. At 11am police saying they were acting on “orders from higher authorities” began instructing people within two kilometres of the epicentre to be promptly evacuated, said the Beijing News. “No people or vehicle allowed within the area,” the police officer reportedly said.
Meanwhile, anger is rising over a lack of timely and accurate information about the blast that rocked Tianjin’s TEDA district this week as relatives of those directly affected demanded answers. According to the same report, a member of the People’s Armed Police said sodium cyanide had been discovered at the epicentre of the explosion. Experts are now handling the chemical while the evacuation continues.
Relatives of missing firefighters interrupted a media conference in the northern Chinese city this morning as they demanded more information about the devastating blasts, according to a weibo post from the Global Times newspaper. Earlier on Saturday anger over a lack of timely and accurate information about the blast spilled over at a press conference where the relatives of contract fire-fighters demanded to be heard.
“Why aren’t the names of the contract firefighters on the public list of dead/missing, but the regular firefighters are,” one woman demanded to know according to another weibo post from the Southern People’s Weekly. According to an AP reporter at the media conference, media were locked inside as visibly upset relatives of the missing firefighters tried to force entry to the locked media conference room, yelling for more information about their lost loved ones.
“No one with family in the number 5 team has received anything” the woman said, complaining about the paucity of information. “Why aren’t the names of the contract fire-fighters on the public list of missing, but the regular fire-fighters are,” one woman demanded to know according to another weibo post from the Southern People’s Weekly.
“They’re only 18, 19 years old” the woman is reported to have said. “The oldest is only 20 years old. They’re only children. They’re only youths!” she said. “No one with family in the number-five team has received anything” the woman said, complaining about the paucity of information.
“They’re only 18, 19 years old. The oldest is only 20 years old. They’re only children. They’re only youths!” the woman said.
'Not a single police officer death has been reported. Everyone from our whole police station is gone.''Not a single police officer death has been reported. Everyone from our whole police station is gone.'
In attempting to calm the woman, a police representative at the media conference said the deaths of police officers had also not been reported. “Not a single police officer death has been reported,” the police officer said. “Everyone from our whole police station is gone.” In an apparent attempt to calm the woman, a police representative at the media conference said the deaths of police officers had also not been reported. “Not a single police officer death has been reported,” the police officer said. “Everyone from our whole police station is gone.”
Officials announced at the same media conference that the number of dead had risen to 85 as of Friday night. Acccording to the officials, 21 of the 85 blast victims were firefighters. Officials announced at the same media conference that the number of dead had risen to 85 as of Friday night. According to the officials, 21 of the 85 blast victims were firefighters.
The identities of five deceased firefighters were revealed on Friday – the youngest just 21 years old. Authorities are saying its the most casualties firefighters have received since the founding of modern china in 1949. On Friday, state broadcaster CCTV cut short coverage of a media conference in Tianjin on Friday after reporters asked why residential areas were so close to the blast.
A rare glimmer of hope came yesterday when Chinese rescue teams located a 19-year-old firefighter – named as Zhou Ti – at the site of the blast more than 30 hours after the blast occurred. The identities of five deceased firefighters were revealed on Friday – the youngest just 21 years old. China’s Fire Department of Ministry of Public Security said it’s the most casualties they have suffered since 1949.
Reports emerged today that Zhou Ti was only 20 metres away from the epicentre of the explosion when he was found alive. The chaotic scenes followed a rare glimmer of hope yesterday when Chinese rescue teams located 19-year-old fire-fighter Zhou Ti at the site of the blast more than 30 hours after the blast occurred.
In total, 721 people have been hospitalised. including 25 in critical condition, 33 people in intensive care, and 40 people have been discharged according to a Xinhua report of the media conference. Reports emerged on Saturday that the young firefighter was only 20 metres away from the epicentre of the explosion when he was found alive.
A Beijing News reporter close to the blast site on Saturday morning said firefighters were still battling fires there and that the sounds of explosions could be heard from time to time. According to the latest official figures, 721 people have been hospitalised, including 25 who are in a critical condition, 33 people who are in intensive care, and 40 people have been discharged.
National broadcaster CCTV cut short coverage of a media conference in Tianjin on Friday after reporters asked why residential areas were so close to the blast.
Additional reporting by Amber Ziye WangAdditional reporting by Amber Ziye Wang