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| China Tianjin blasts: Evacuations as sodium cyanide found | 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 evacuations came as police confirmed the highly toxic chemical sodium cyanide was found near the site. | 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, Xinhua news agency said. | 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. |
| Latest pictures of the aftermath | |
| People sheltering at a school used as a safe haven since the disaster have been asked to leave wearing masks and long trousers, reports say. | People sheltering at a school used as a safe haven since the disaster have been asked to leave wearing masks and long trousers, reports say. |
| Anti-chemical warfare troops have entered the site. | Anti-chemical warfare troops have entered the site. |
| 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. |
| The discovery was confirmed by police "roughly east of the blast site" in an industrial zone, state-run Beijing News said. | The discovery was confirmed by police "roughly east of the blast site" in an industrial zone, state-run Beijing News said. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. |
| What is sodium cyanide? | What is sodium cyanide? |
| 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. | 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. |
| It is mostly used in chemical manufacturing, for fumigation and in the mining industry to extract gold and silver. | It is mostly used in chemical manufacturing, for fumigation and in the mining industry to extract gold and silver. |
| 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. | 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. |
| Potent chemical mix behind blasts | Potent chemical mix behind blasts |
| What we know about explosions | What we know about explosions |
| The questions being asked by Chinese citizens | The questions being asked by Chinese citizens |
| 'Hero' firefighters hailed: | 'Hero' firefighters hailed: |
| 'Like the end of the world': Residents' stories | 'Like the end of the world': Residents' stories |
| Some fires have continued to smoulder and at least one reignited on Saturday. Xinhua said several cars at the site had "exploded again". | |
| Of the 721 people injured, 25 are in critical condition and 33 are serious. | Of the 721 people injured, 25 are in critical condition and 33 are serious. |
| At least 21 firefighters are among the dead and an unknown number remain missing. | At least 21 firefighters are among the dead and an unknown number remain missing. |
| Dozens of relatives of the missing tried to disrupt a news conference given by officials on Saturday, demanding to know the fate of their loved ones. | Dozens of relatives of the missing tried to disrupt a news conference given by officials on Saturday, demanding to know the fate of their loved ones. |
| "We have gone to each and every hospital by ourselves and not found them," Reuters news agency quoted Wang Baoxia, whose elder brother is missing, as saying. | "We have gone to each and every hospital by ourselves and not found them," Reuters news agency quoted Wang Baoxia, whose elder brother is missing, as saying. |
| "There is no government official willing to meet us. Not even one." | "There is no government official willing to meet us. Not even one." |
| The operators of the Tianjin site have been accused of violating safety rules. | 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". | 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". |
| Are you in Tianjin? Have you been affected by the explosions? You can share your comments by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Are you in Tianjin? Have you been affected by the explosions? You can share your comments by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
| Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |