The city of Tianjin struck by a series of explosions
The city of Tianjin in northeastern China was struck Wednesday evening by a series of explosions killing more than 40 people and injuring hundreds.
The city of Tianjin in northeastern China was struck Wednesday evening by a series of explosions killing more than 40 people and injuring hundreds. Tianjin, this major port agglomeration 140 km south of Beijing, was hit by two massive explosions Wednesday evening in the city's industrial port zone. The fire triggered by the blasts is believed to have originated in a shipment of flammable and explosive materials.
The first detonation was reported around 11:30 p.m. local time, followed 30 seconds later by a second blast that sent shockwaves felt for several kilometers. Immediately, rescue teams deployed to the scene attempted to extinguish the fire without success. 36 firefighters remain missing.
17 people at the site also lost their lives. According to China's Earthquake Networks and Media Research Center, the magnitude of the first explosion was equivalent to the detonation of 3 tons of TNT for the first and 21 tons for the second. The explosion was also captured by Japan's weather satellite, Himawari8.
Explosion in #TianjinCity China 08/12 Himawari8 SWIR http://t.co/SadU2X5cWx #RealEarth™ @UWSSEC @UWCIMSS pic.twitter.com/zWa3B1iEdi
— Russell Dengel (@RussellDengel) August 12, 2015
According to local police, the warehouse where the explosions occurred was owned by Ruihai Logistics. Chinese state media announced that several company executives have been arrested. An investigation is underway to determine the causes of the explosions. However, it appears that in China many safety standards are still not being respected. There is therefore a strong likelihood that the fire was caused by serious safety negligence.
President Xi Jinping called for "all possible efforts to aid the victims and extinguish the fire". He also promised severe penalties if breaches of safety standards were discovered. The spectacular explosions were photographed and filmed and shared on social media, giving us an idea of the scale of the disaster.
Major explosion in #Tianjin, it's a chemical product storage facility. All hospitals are overwhelmed pic.twitter.com/BjPLTd8NjU
— Zhulin Zhang (@ZhangZhulin) August 12, 2015
Frequently asked questions
The Tianjin explosions that occurred on August 12, 2015, initially killed more than 40 people according to early reports. The official death toll was eventually set at more than 170 victims, with hundreds injured and dozens of firefighters reported missing in the first hours.
According to local police, the warehouses affected by the explosions were owned by Ruihai Logistics. Several company executives were arrested and an investigation was opened to determine the exact causes, including possible safety negligence.
The power of the explosions was so great that Japan's Himawari8 weather satellite captured the blasts from space. Furthermore, China's Earthquake Networks and Media Research Center estimated that the first explosion was equivalent to 3 tons of TNT and the second to 21 tons.
Tianjin remains an accessible destination for travelers. Located 140 km south of Beijing, it is connected to the capital by high-speed rail. The city's tourist areas, notably the old European quarter and historic center, are situated away from the industrial port zone affected by the explosions.
