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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| China Tianjin blasts: Evacuation of residents ordered | China Tianjin blasts: Evacuation of residents ordered |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The Chinese authorities have ordered the evacuation of residents within a 3km radius of the Tianjin blast site over fears of chemical contamination. | The Chinese authorities have ordered the evacuation of residents within a 3km radius of the Tianjin blast site over fears of chemical contamination. |
| The official Xinhua news agency said the evacuation was prompted by the threat of "toxic substances" spreading. | The official Xinhua news agency said the evacuation was prompted by the threat of "toxic substances" spreading. |
| A man was found alive 50m from the blast core area, it added. | |
| Eighty-five people are now known to have died and hundreds were hurt in the giant blasts in the north-eastern Chinese port on Wednesday. | Eighty-five people are now known to have died and hundreds were hurt in the giant blasts in the north-eastern Chinese port on Wednesday. |
| Some fires have continued to smoulder and one reignited on Saturday. Xinhua said several cars at the site had "exploded again". | Some fires have continued to smoulder and one reignited on Saturday. Xinhua said several cars at the site had "exploded again". |
| Anti-chemical warfare troops have entered the site, reports say. | |
| The People's Daily newspaper tweeted that they had been sent to handle highly toxic sodium cyanide which had been found there. | |
| Officials have only confirmed that the chemicals calcium carbide, potassium nitrate and sodium nitrate were at the warehouse. | Officials have only confirmed that the chemicals calcium carbide, potassium nitrate and sodium nitrate were at the warehouse. |
| Calcium carbide reacts with water to create the highly explosive acetylene, while sodium cyanide is soluble in water and can be fatal if inhaled or ingested. | Calcium carbide reacts with water to create the highly explosive acetylene, while sodium cyanide is soluble in water and can be fatal if inhaled or ingested. |
| People's Daily previously quoted firefighting officials as saying that some of these chemicals would be "easy to explode if heated or collided". | |
| Officials have so far insisted that air and water quality levels are safe. | Officials have so far insisted that air and water quality levels are safe. |
| But the operators of the Tianjin site have been accused of "clearly violating" safety rules. | |
| China has ordered officials to make nationwide checks on dangerous chemicals and explosives and to "crack down unwaveringly on illegal activities to ensure safety". | |
| Tianjin explosions | Tianjin explosions |
| What we know about explosions: Much of what happened is unclear, but here is what we do know | What we know about explosions: Much of what happened is unclear, but here is what we do know |
| Potent chemical mix behind blasts: How dangerous could the chemicals be? | Potent chemical mix behind blasts: How dangerous could the chemicals be? |
| Fears after explosions: The questions being asked by Chinese citizens | Fears after explosions: The questions being asked by Chinese citizens |
| 'Hero' firefighters hailed: Chinese praise for emergency teams | 'Hero' firefighters hailed: Chinese praise for emergency teams |
| 'Like the end of the world': Residents' stories | 'Like the end of the world': Residents' stories |
| Pictures reveal devastation: Images from blast site | Pictures reveal devastation: Images from blast site |
| 'Netizens' critical of coverage silenced: Authorities remove social media posts | 'Netizens' critical of coverage silenced: Authorities remove social media posts |