BEIJING (AA): At least 44 people were killed and around 500 others injured late Wednesday after an enormous explosion ripped through a warehouse in a port city in north China storing “dangerous goods”.
State news agency Xinhua reported that a blast that tore through the Binhai New Area of Tianjin city around 11:30 p.m. (1630GMT) triggered a second explosion that sent fireballs into the sky, doors and windows flying in neighboring areas, and set cars and houses on fire.
The city is a 30-minute train ride from Beijing by train, and home to 14.72 million people.
Of the 400 injured 32 are reported to remain in a critical condition, while 283 others are under observation in hospital.
According to the city’s fire brigade, at least three firefighters died fighting the ensuing blaze and more are feared missing.
The Tianjin brigade is reported to have sent 12 teams after receiving a fire report at 10.50 p.m. from the warehouse which was storing “dangerous and chemical goods”.
A further nine teams and 35 fire engines were sent following the explosion.
President Xi Jinping has urged all-out efforts to save the injured and minimize casualties and rescuers continue to search for people trapped inside the site.
Xi noted that the cause of the fire must be found.
Xinhua reported the head of a nearby hospital, Lu Yun, as saying it had treated around 150 people, most of who were injured by flying broken glass or stones.
Some of the injured remain in a serious condition, said the hospital head.
