At Least 17 Dead, 400 Injured After Series of Explosions in Tianjin, China
Videos and photos posted to social media show series of enormous explosions in the northern Chinese city Tianjin. Early reports indicate the explosions, which caused a huge mushroom cloud and triggered shockwaves that could be felt miles away, occurred on a dock near a giant fuel depot.
UPDATE 1:53 pm: State newspaper People’s Daily China reports the explosion was caused by “explosive material in container at terminal in Binhai District.” Several people have been rushed to the hospital, though it’s unclear how many were injured. There are also reports that the explosion was seen from space.
UPDATE 2:08 pm: Hundreds of people were reportedly injured in the blast.
From local Chinese media: in one hospital in #Tianjin... doctors are treating more than 400 injuries, most burn related.
August 12, 2015
UPDATE 2:28 pm: The fire caused by the explosions, which reportedly took place just after 11:30 pm local time, are now under control, according to China Xinhua News. Two firefighters have been reported missing.
UPDATE 3:15: Chinese state media reports that at least 300 people were injured in the explosions. Most of the injuries appear to be burns or cuts from broken glass.
UPDATE 4:35 pm: At least seven people were killed, according to Chinese state media.
Reported security camera video from the #Tianjin explosion via weibo pic.twitter.com/9hsC6weuzv
August 12, 2015
Our reporter says at least 2 or 3 explosions. First in #Tianjin dock area, then "something related to gas or oil" pic.twitter.com/ZU7QOYZaPW
August 12, 2015
Video of the enormous explosion in Tianjin #Chinapic.twitter.com/NF0BtdIOMS
August 12, 2015
#Breaking: Massive explosion rocks N China's #Tianjin, cause & casualties unclear yet (web sources) @BreakingNews pic.twitter.com/GOG8Q7OWew
August 12, 2015
UPDATE 7:45 pm: According to the BBC, at least 17 people were reportedly killed and more than 400 were injured—11 of them critically—by the explosions.