(CNN)In the early hours of Thursday morning, several blasts ripped through the Chinese port city of Tianjin, killing dozens and injuring hundreds.
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The housing development’s windows were shattered and the side facing the explosions singed.
Authorities were quick to cordon off the blast site to journalists, while Chinese citizens posting comments on Sina Weibo, a micro-blogging platform, complained of their posts about the blasts being deleted. Twelve of the dead were from among the more than 1,000 firefighters sent to the mostly industrial zone to fight the ensuing blaze. John Deere employees who were scheduled to travel to the area will postpone that travel, Golden said.
THE massive explosions in China’s northern city of Tianjin are now known to have killed at least 50 people.
Some American companies with manufacturing operations in China have been impacted by Wednesday’s explosion in the port city of Tianjin.
The explosions originated at a warehouse site owned by Tianjin Dongjiang Port Rui Hai worldwide Logistics Co., a company that stores and transports risky chemicals. That explosion was followed by a second, this one even larger. The second explosion had the power of more than 20 tons of TNT. The enormous fireballs from the blasts rolled through a nearby parking lot, turning a fleet of 1,000 new cars into scorched metal husks.
“I heard the first explosion and everyone went outside, then there was a series of more explosions”, said Huang Shiting, 27, who lives close to the site.
Tianjin may see thick clouds tomorrow, and rain is expected later in the week, which could result in additional secondary blasts. “Everybody could see it”. But people in other departments with a wink and a nod say we don’t really need to do this.
Speaking to CNN after the tragic incident which has killed at least 50 people, Will Ripley said: ‘Emotions are running high.
Meanwhile, a potentially toxic haze has enveloped part of the city, with environmental officials saying poisonous chemicals, including toluene and chloroform, may have been released into the air in risky amounts, according to reports.
However, the Tianjin government suspended further firefighting efforts to allow a team of chemicals experts to survey hazardous materials at the site.
The fire started in the warehouse of RuiHai Logistics, where over a dozen types of chemicals were being stored.
There was no indication of what caused the disaster.
Police blocked access to the blast site.
Shipping containers damaged by the explosions.
According to the company’s website, the facility covers about half a million square feet and includes several hazardous and unsafe goods warehouses.
Xi said in a statement carried by official media that those responsible should be “severely handled”. Other photos on state media outlets showed a sea of fire that painted the sky bright orange, with tall plumes of smoke.
“A preliminary assessment to Deere’s TEDA facilities found damage to various buildings including blown out windows and doors and damage to ceilings”.
Liu extended appreciation to medical workers participating in the rescue. “But for us it’s a total loss”.
Migrant workers employed at nearby businesses may be some of the hardest hit by the destruction.
The district where the warehouse was located is thinly populated and situated roughly 40 kilometers (25 miles) from the center of Tianjin. Also inaccessible was the website for the Tianjin Administration for Industry and Commerce, the agency that collects information about companies, their executives and shareholders.
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Chinese military personnel have been sent to help with the recovery.
