Over 700 casualties in Tianjin explosions

TIANJIN, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- Blasts that tore through a warehouse in Tianjin's port area in north China on Wednesday night have killed at least 50 people, 12 of whom were firemen. Another 701 people are still in hospital, many gravely ill.

Emergency personnel are continuing the search for the missing firefighters, but this is already one of the biggest losses of firemen in the line of duty for decades. Of the hundreds injured, most suffering from burns or broken bones, 71 are critically ill.

Two blasts occurred around 11:30 p.m. in Binhai New Area and were so strong that they were registered as seismic activity by the national earthquake center.

Binhai New Area special economic zone is part of the Bohai economic rim and home to numerous Fortune 500 companies. A cluster of logistics companies operate in the area immediately surrounding the blast site and virtually everything within a three-kilometer radius as been damaged or destroyed: shipping containers lie crumbled on the dockside, port buildings are reduced to twisted metal frames.

About 1 km away are two residential communities where burned-out cars block the streets and broken glass litters the ground. Most of the dead and injured are migrant workers who live in these communities. Many fled their homes in pajamas after being thrown from their beds by the force of the blasts.

President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang have urged all-out efforts to save people and warned that "those responsible will be seriously handled".

Public Security Minister Guo Shengkun is on site and personally leading the emergency response.

The warehouse belongs to Tianjin Dongjiang Port Ruihai International Logistics Co. Ltd, a company licensed to store, distribute and import dangerous chemicals. The cause of the blast is still unknown but some company executives have already been detained by police. More than 1,000 firefighters were still battling flames on Thursday afternoon.

Braving the inferno

The city of Tianjin is home to around 15 million people. The road leading to the blaze remains impassable, and responders are only able to spray dry powder and foam from a distance.

A team of more than 200 military specialists in handling nuclear and biochemical materials has been sent to the northern city from Beijing to assist.

Injured people pack hospital emergency rooms. At the TEDA Hospital, which took in 150 casualties, a uniformed firefighter in his 20s was stretchered in. Gasping and coughing, face darkened by smoke, he found the strength to recount his ordeal: "It was complete darkness, smoke was everywhere. My buddies were badly injured, but I'm ok." He is being treated for toxic smoke inhalation.

The first explosion occurred at around 11:30 p.m. and about 30 seconds later, a second much more powerful blast sent doors and windows flying, engulfing cars and houses in flames.

As rescuers attempt to comb the area and assess the damage, rail links connecting downtown Tianjin and Binhai have been suspended. Shockwaves from the blast damaged the Donghai road terminal and supercomputer Tianhe-1 was shut down when the explosion damaged its building and support facilities.

Lucky to be alive

"I was asleep at home, when a blast of air burst in through the window. I looked out and saw a mushroom cloud like a nuclear blast," said a resident, whose home is a few kilometers away.

Driver Hu Xiaoliang was sleeping under his truck with three coworkers when they were blasted out of their slumbers. Loaded with charcoal, Hu's truck was parked just outside the door of the logistics company. "Now they are nothing but ashes," said the 32-year-old.

Every window in many apartment buildings has been shattered. Inside much has been destroyed and blood stains the floors.

An emergency center for aid distribution and blood donations was set up in a public aquarium. Many residents have decided to spend the night in tents, and nearby schools are open to accommodate the displaced.

"My son is in still in surgery. I called his name as I tried to escape, but he did not respond," said Zhang Shiyi, a migrant worker who lived about 200 meters from the warehouse. "I am lucky to be alive," he said.