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| China Tianjin blasts: Evacuations as sodium cyanide found | China Tianjin blasts: Evacuations as sodium cyanide found |
| (5 days later) | |
| Chinese authorities have ordered the evacuation of residents within a 3km radius of the Tianjin blast site over fears of chemical contamination. | 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 after an apparent change in wind direction, and as police confirmed the highly toxic chemical sodium cyanide was found near the site. | The evacuations came after an apparent change in wind direction, and as police confirmed the highly toxic chemical sodium cyanide was found near the site. |
| At least 112 people died in the blasts, officials said on Sunday, and more than 700 have been hospitalised. | At least 112 people died in the blasts, officials said on Sunday, and more than 700 have been hospitalised. |
| Officials have identified 24 of the dead, with 88 still to be identified. | Officials have identified 24 of the dead, with 88 still to be identified. |
| Remarkably, a man was found alive just 50m from the blast core, Chinese state news agency Xinhua reported. | Remarkably, a man was found alive just 50m from the blast core, Chinese state news agency Xinhua reported. |
| The man was able to talk when he was found and is now in hospital, according to the report. | The man was able to talk when he was found and is now in hospital, according to the report. |
| Latest pictures of the aftermath | Latest pictures of the aftermath |
| People sheltering at a school used as a safe haven since the disaster have now 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 now been asked to leave wearing masks and long trousers, reports say. |
| The order came after a change in wind direction, prompting fears that toxic particles that would have been blown out to sea could be blown inland. | The order came after a change in wind direction, prompting fears that toxic particles that would have been blown out to sea could be blown inland. |
| Troops equipped with chemical warfare protection have now entered the site of the blasts. | Troops equipped with chemical warfare protection have now entered the site of the blasts. |
| The People's Daily newspaper tweeted that the specialist troops had been sent to handle the highly toxic sodium cyanide found at the site. | The People's Daily newspaper tweeted that the specialist troops had been sent to handle the highly toxic sodium cyanide found at the site. |
| Police said the discovery occurred "roughly east of the blast site" in an industrial zone, according to state-run Beijing News. | Police said the discovery occurred "roughly east of the blast site" in an industrial zone, according to state-run Beijing News. |
| 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. |
| Meanwhile Chinese President Xi Jinping urged the authorities to learn the "extremely profound" lessons and keep "safe growth" and "people's interest first" in mind to avoid similar accidents. | Meanwhile Chinese President Xi Jinping urged the authorities to learn the "extremely profound" lessons and keep "safe growth" and "people's interest first" in mind to avoid similar accidents. |
| 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". | 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: |
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