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Huge explosion rocks northern China's Tianjin

August 12, 2015

A massive explosion has hit a warehouse in the northeastern Chinese city of Tianjin, triggering a major blast wave. Residents were reported to have fled their homes fearing an earthquake.

https://p.dw.com/p/1GEkr
China Explosion in Tianjin
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/Y. Yuewei

China's official Xinhua news agency said the blast happened at about 11.30 p.m. local time (1630 UTC) Wednesday, but said the cause remained unknown. State media confirmed at least 13 people died in the explosion, which has caused at least 180 injuries.

A deafening bang was heard as plumes of flames rose into the sky, with the blast wave felt several kilometers away. Xinhua said the people who fled their homes had feared an earthquake.

State broadcaster China Central Television reported that the explosion had come from a shipment of explosives. The channel said there had been two explosions within 30 seconds of one another.

"An explosion ripped through a warehouse storing 'dangerous goods' in north China's Tianjin City late Wednesday night," Xinhua reported.

The state-run Beijing News website said that between 300 and 400 people had been admitted to hospitals in the port city, which lies to the east of the capital, Beijing.

Videos posted on the Chinese social network Weibo showed a fireball shooting into the air on at least two separate explosions. Photos on the network showed people in the street apparently covered in blood, although the authenticity of the pictures could not immediately be confirmed.

rc/se (AFP, Reuters, dpa)