At least 17 people have lost their lives and up to 400 others have been injured following two huge explosions on Wednesday evening at a port in Tianjin Province. Government-run press have reported that combustible materials stored in the industrial section of the port triggered the accident.

Xinhua reported that firefighters were dispatched to put out a fire in the warehouse owned by Tianjin Dongjiang Port Rui Hai International Logistics Company at around 11:00p.m. The facility contained various combustible and chemical items. Additional firefighters and equipments were sent after two huge explosions rocked the port and surrounding areas 30 minutes later.

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China Central Television (CCTV) later reported that the first explosion happened at approximately 11:30p.m. and 30 seconds later, the second and much more powerful explosion occurred. A YouTube video captured the magnitude of the two explosions. Fires caused by the blasts were clearly visible even from a distance.

Local online media sites captured images of people running away from the scene of the accident. Residents living in buildings near the port reported that they were affected by shock waves from the explosion.

Monica Andrews, a teacher from Canada, recounted that she thought an earthquake just occurred. She said people were in a state of panic in the apartment complex where she was staying.

To give a clear picture of just how strong the explosions were, Xinhua compared the first blast to almost 3 tons of TNT, while the second blast was almost as powerful as 21 TNT tons.

Two firefighters have been reported missing, while four others were wounded as they fought the blaze that lasted till the early hours of Thursday morning.

China's top leaders including the President Xi Jinping and Prime Minster Li Keqiang have issued a directive to local authorities to put out the fire as soon as possible and make sure that all of the missing and wounded people are taken care of.

Tianjin is estimated to have a population of around 15 million. It also has the biggest commercial and industrial port in China.

Accidents such as the Taijin explosions are fairly common due to China's rapid economic development. In 2014, at least 75 persons died at an automotive factory explosion in the eastern part of China, according to Reuters.

TagsTianjin explosion, tianjin accident, tianjin blast, tianjin port explosion, warehouse explosion, tianjin dongjiang port rui hai, tianjin firefighters