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China Tianjin blasts: Evacuation of residents ordered China Tianjin blasts: Evacuations as sodium cyanide found
(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 evacuations came as police confirmed the highly toxic chemical sodium cyanide was found near the site.
A man was found alive 50m from the blast core area, it added. A man was found alive 50m from the blast core, Xinhua news agency said.
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.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.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. The discovery was confirmed by police "roughly east of the blast site" in an industrial zone, state-run Beijing News said.
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. What is sodium cyanide?
People's Daily previously quoted firefighting officials as saying that some of these chemicals would be "easy to explode if heated or collided". The chemical sodium cyanide is white crystalline or granular powder which can be rapidly fatal if inhaled or ingested, as it interferes with the body's ability to use oxygen.
Officials have so far insisted that air and water quality levels are safe. It is mostly used in chemical manufacturing, for fumigation and in the mining industry to extract gold and silver.
But the operators of the Tianjin site have been accused of "clearly violating" safety rules. It is soluble in water, and absorbs water from air, and its dust is also easy to inhale. When dissolved or burned, it releases the highly poisonous gas hydrogen cyanide.
China has ordered officials to make nationwide checks on dangerous chemicals and explosives and to "crack down unwaveringly on illegal activities to ensure safety". Potent chemical mix behind blasts
Tianjin explosions What we know about explosions
What we know about explosions: Much of what happened is unclear, but here is what we do know The questions being asked by Chinese citizens
Potent chemical mix behind blasts: How dangerous could the chemicals be? 'Hero' firefighters hailed:
Fears after explosions: The questions being asked by Chinese citizens
'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 Officials had until then only confirmed the presence of calcium carbide, potassium nitrate and sodium nitrate. Calcium carbide reacts with water to create the highly explosive acetylene.
'Netizens' critical of coverage silenced: Authorities remove social media posts Officials have so far insisted that air and water quality levels are safe.
But the operators of the Tianjin site have been accused of violating safety rules.
The Chinese government has ordered officials to make nationwide checks on dangerous chemicals and explosives and to "crack down unwaveringly on illegal activities to ensure safety".