Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


               China Searches for Clues After Warehouse Explosion

   by VOA News

   Chinese authorities are continuing an investigation into what caused
   two gigantic explosions at a warehouse in a main port city, as locals
   expressed fears about the possible presence of dangerous chemicals near
   the site.

   Several small fires were still smoldering early Friday at the site of
   the blasts, which occurred late Wednesday in a warehouse storing
   dangerous chemicals in a mostly industrial neighborhood in the
   northeastern city of Tianjin.

   Officials say at least 50 people were killed and 700 others injured,
   with 70 in serious condition. It is not known how many people are
   missing, and there are widespread expectations that the death toll will
   continue to grow.

   A team of 217 military nuclear and biochemical specialists, along with
   a group from the International Atomic Energy Agency's Beijing office,
   have been dispatched to the area, according to the official Xinhua news
   agency.

   Tianjin safety authorities said Friday they have not determined what
   specific dangerous chemicals were stored in the warehouses. The
   officials, quoted by Xinhua, said there are "major discrepancies
   between the accounts of company management and customs."

   High densities of toxic gases, including sulfur dioxide, carbon
   monoxide, and nitrogen oxides were detected within 500 meters of the
   fire, according to Tianjin's environmental office on Thursday. But it
   said toxic fumes within the city are "within national standards."

   Still, public skepticism was widespread, due in part to the Chinese
   government's well-documented record of playing down environmental and
   pollution hazards.

   A report in the state-run Beijing News reported earlier that at least
   700 tons of sodium cyanide were at the site. The report, which was
   later removed, said the toxic chemical had been detected in sewage
   samples.

   The first explosion took place just after 11:30 p.m. local time
   Wednesday, followed shortly by a second more powerful blast. China's
   National Earthquake Bureau said the first blast was the equivalent of 3
   tons of TNT, and the second 21 tons.

   Pictures and videos showed gigantic plumes of fire and a mushroom cloud
   that dwarfed nearby high-rise buildings and sent out a massive
   shockwave that rattled residents several kilometers from the blast
   site.

   Tianjin is a port city in northeastern China, about 150 kilometers
   southeast of Beijing, and is home to more than 15 million people. It is
   China's fourth largest city.

   In the U.S., the White House sent its condolences; spokesman Ned Price
   called the explosions a tragedy and praised the first responders
   working to help the injured.

   U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in a statement extended his
   condolences to the families of the victims, including the fire
   fighters, who, he said, "made the ultimate sacrifice."
     __________________________________________________________________

   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/china-searches-for-clues-after-wareho
   use-explosion/2917622.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/china-searches-for-clues-after-warehouse-explosion/2917622.html