Explosion at explosives warehouse, 44 dead, 400 injured

The death toll from two powerful explosions that shook the Chinese port of Tianjin late Wednesday evening has risen to 44, with more than 400 people injured, over 30 of whom are in critical condition, CNN reports, as stated by the Patria News Agency.

Authorities have also lost contact with 36 firefighters who participated in extinguishing fires caused by explosions at a warehouse of flammable substances in the industrial part of the port in northeastern China.

Fires were still burning on Thursday in this city of 15 million, and photos published on the websites of Chinese media show several destroyed buildings, burnt vehicles, and a destroyed multi-story garage.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has asked local authorities to urgently work on remedying the situation and caring for the injured.

Chinese state television announced that the explosion occurred at an explosives warehouse shortly before midnight, and the resulting shockwave shook buildings several kilometers around. A second explosion followed about 30 seconds after the first, state media reported.