A series of massive explosions in Tianjin’s industrial district rocked the port city late Wednesday night, causing widespread devastation miles from the blast site.
The official death toll currently stands at 17 with over 400 injured, but that number is almost certain to rise with buildings 5 km from the blast site damaged. Nine firefighters are among the confirmed dead and authorities say they have lost contact with another 36 firefighters.
The first explosion, which measured the equivalent of detonating three tons of TNT, occurred at a warehouse storing hazardous chemicals in Tianjin’s Binhai New Area, with an even bigger blast, the equivalent of 21 tons of TNT, erupting just seconds later. These triggered a series of subsequent blasts in the area.
Videos of the blast below:
Residents living 10 km from the scene reported feeling shockwaves, with many thinking it was an earthquake until they went outside to see a massive fire and smoke billowing from the scene.
The first explosion registered as a magnitude 2.3 and the second explosion was measured at magnitude 2.9, according to the China Earthquake Administration. The US Geological Survey monitor 160km (100 miles) away in Beijing also recorded the blasts.
The blasts shattered windows, causing many to be injured by flying glass and debris. Many spent the night on the streets wearing masks to protect themselves from the smoke and smell of chemicals, which remained on Thursday morning. The local government announced this morning that firefighting efforts have been suspended over safety concerns about the potentially toxic contents of the “dangerous goods” in the warehouse.
Authorities are still investigating the cause of the explosion, though it may have been triggered by a fire. The Tianjin fire brigade dispatched 12 teams to the Ruihai warehouse after receiving a fire report at 10:50 pm Wednesday. The first explosion occurred at the site about 40 minutes later, according to Xinhua.
Executives from Ruihai International Logistics, the company that owns the warehouse, have been detained by police.
Shipping containers crushed by the blasts.
A workers dormitory destroyed.
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