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| Tianjin explosions: police order mass evacuations amid further blasts | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| 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. | 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, amid fears that highly toxic chemical sodium cyanide discovered at the site could lead to more casualties. | 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. |
| “Out of consideration for toxic substances spreading, the masses nearby have been asked to evacuate,” Xinhua said. | “Out of consideration for toxic substances spreading, the masses nearby have been asked to evacuate,” Xinhua 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| “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. | “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. |
| “No one with family in the number-five team has received anything” the woman said, complaining about the paucity of information. | “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. | “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 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.” | 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. According 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| Reports emerged on Saturday that the young firefighter was only 20 metres away from the epicentre of the explosion when he was found alive. | Reports emerged on Saturday that the young firefighter was only 20 metres away from the epicentre of the explosion when he was found alive. |
| 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. | 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. |
| Additional reporting by Amber Ziye Wang | Additional reporting by Amber Ziye Wang |