{"id":142963,"date":"2015-08-13T06:29:57","date_gmt":"2015-08-13T06:29:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/4cd.e16.myftpupload.com\/?p=142963"},"modified":"2015-08-13T06:29:57","modified_gmt":"2015-08-13T06:29:57","slug":"china-blasts-death-toll-rises-in-tianjin-port-explosions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/citifmonline.com\/2015\/08\/china-blasts-death-toll-rises-in-tianjin-port-explosions\/","title":{"rendered":"China blasts: Death toll rises in Tianjin port explosions"},"content":{"rendered":"
At least 44 people are now known to have died, and more than 500 injured, following two major explosions in China’s northern city of Tianjin.<\/p>\n
Twelve firefighters were among the dead, China’s official Xinhua news agency said as it reported a doubling of the death toll.<\/p>\n
Two blasts happened in a warehouse storing “dangerous and chemical goods” in the port city of the area.
\nA huge fireball lit up the sky, and nearby buildings have collapsed.<\/p>\n
President Xi Jinping has urged “all-out efforts” to rescue victims and contain the fire, Xinhua reports.<\/p>\n
The first explosion at about 23:30 local time (15:30 GMT) on Wednesday was followed by another, more powerful blast, seconds later. Shockwaves were felt several kilometres away.<\/p>\n
The China Earthquake Networks Centre said the magnitude of the first explosion was the equivalent of detonating three tonnes of TNT, while the second was the equivalent of 21 tonnes.<\/p>\n
Further blasts were subsequently triggered nearby, Xinhua said.<\/p>\n
State broadcaster China Central Television (CCTV) said a shipment of explosives had detonated but this has not been confirmed.<\/p>\n