Chinese authorities say the death toll from the Tianjin port blast has reached 50 people. Investigators are, however, yet to pinpoint the cause of the heavy explosions, which occurred on Thursday evening. Firefighters were already at the scene putting out a fire when the explosions occurred. 

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A number of port workers are still missing and more than 700 people were wounded in the blast. Almost a hundred survivors are suffering from critical injuries. The fatalities among the firefighters has also increased to 17.

The twin-explosions were so big that they were spotted by space satellites. Residents living a few kilometers away from the blast site reported feeling strong shock waves, which many mistook for an earthquake. Even the United States Geological service thought the explosions were the result of seismic activity.

Eyewitness told reporters how large sections of the Tianjin port quickly became devastated after the blasts. Hundreds of container vans and motor vehicles in the port have been destroyed. Even buildings were reduced to debris.

A witness, Guan Xiang, said he was sleeping in his home about 7 kilometers away from the blast site when he was awaken by the explosion. Guan said he initially thought an earthquake had just occurred because his door and windows were shaking.

Local authorities said up to a thousand firemen and more than a hundred fire trucks were sent to battle huge the fires in the industrial warehouse, which stored combustible and volatile materials.

The Tianjin Tanggu Environmental Monitoring Station has identified some of the chemicals stored in the warehouse as calcium carbide (CaC2), sodium cyanide (NaCN) and toluene diissocyanate (TDI). Experts say all of these chemicals are dangerous to humans and should not be touched.

Greenpeace said sodium cyanide is highly poisonous. The environmental group also said calcium carbide and toluene diisocyanate are more dangerous when they come in contact with water and certain chemicals.

Local environmental protection head Wen Wurui admitted during a media conference that some of the dangerous chemicals are present in certain areas of the port. But he said that as long as humans keep minimum contact with the toxic materials, the health threat they pose will be reduced.

TagsTianjin explosion, tianjin port explosion, tianjin blast, tianjin dongjiang port rui hai, tianjin firefighters, tianjin deathtoll, tianjin tanggu environmental monitoring station, united states geological survey