China - Huge, huge mystery explosion in Tianjin, Northern China, 12 Aug 2015

[zwiebel]

The fire is 'too dangerous' to try and put it out. That's why it's spreading so much.

Hours later, fires were still burning and 100 fire engines were at the scene, reported Chinese state broadcaster CCTV.

It added that police were focusing on search and rescue operations rather than putting out the fire, as they want all chemicals to burn up completely. There was concern that high winds in the area could cause yet another blast.

Two firefighters were "out of contact", and four were among the injured, Xinhua said.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-33896292

 

[LadyL]

any chance this is terrorism?

http://thediplomat.com/2015/05/the-terrorist-threat-in-china/

 

[skibaboo]

[video=twitter;631602548722540544]https://twitter.com/cnntoday/status/631602548722540544[/video]

 

[Isabelle]

There hasn't been much on the news about this either??

 

[EllieBee]

Initial reports veering from 50 to 100 rushed to hospital. I suspect there are many more and many dead. Early suggestions are this was some kind of chemical/oil explosion.

This photo was from around five miles away. This was a big explosion. And that glaring mushroom cloud is disturbing.

http://www.rt.com/news/312292-china-tianjin-massive-blast/

Da FARQUE?

 

[EllieBee]

I swear, when I saw those videos I didn't know if I should head to my cellar with supplies!

Reminds me awfully of those first few minutes/hours of September 11, 2001. Most of us hoped "surely this is all" whilst we really worried "oh God, this is only the beginning".

I just haven't anything better to say. I am tired of who we are. People exhaust me.

 

[SCHMAE]

I guess the lack of US reporting is due to the fact that getting accurate news out of China is sometimes difficult. Last I heard the ' official ' number was very low of injuries. Then I saw an even lower number. So do we believe the first 400 ? Often, in a big disaster, initial reporting is a lot higher than actual number. So what do we believe ?

ETA oops, answered my own question.


http://www.rt.com/news/312292-china-tianjin-massive-blast/

 

[KaaBoom]

News reports say chemicals, but it looks to me like a fireworks factory, or maybe some other kind of explosives.

 

[Indy Anna]

This is horrifying! I gasped with each explosion on the videos. My heart goes out to all affected! :tears:

 

[Indy Anna]

Reminds me awfully of those first few minutes/hours of September 11, 2001. Most of us hoped "surely this is all" whilst we really worried "oh God, this is only the beginning".

I just haven't anything better to say. I am tired of who we are. People exhaust me.

BBM I had a rough day and was feeling very angry at people. I'm still in a lot of pain after taking several types of pain meds. But, this really puts things in perspective for me. So, so sad.

 

[Indy Anna]

News reports say chemicals, but it looks to me like a fireworks factory, or maybe some other kind of explosives.

Fireworks factory explosion is exactly what I thought when I watched the videos.

 

[concernedmother]

This video doesn't show the terrifying flash glare, but it shows the mushroom clouds perfectly.

It's not a media link, but I strongly suspect this is genuine footage. I got it from tweeter https://mobile.twitter.com/GissiSim/tweets Mainstream media are all asking to use his pics/videos, so I think they're sound.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ldomeMgLBao

Pretty sure the guy said the F bomb.

 

[Indy Anna]

China Explosion: Daylight Shows Devastation in Tianjin, At Least 17 Dead
by NBC NEWS and THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Firefighting efforts were temporarily suspended at the warehouse Thursday morning over concerns about what materials might still be on site, according to a government statement.

At least 17 people were killed, and at least 238 people were hospitalized, with 32 in critical condition, state broadcaster CCTV reported Thursday morning. State media outlets reported that some firefighters died, but numbers varied.

Earthquake monitors said the first blast had a 2.3-magnitude, the equivalent of 3 tons of TNT, while the second registered as 2.9-magnitude, the equivalent of 21 tons of TNT, state broadcaster CCTV reported.

<<snipped>>

http://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/daylight-shows-scenes-devastation-tianjin-least-17-dead-n408946

 

[Indy Anna]

Pretty sure the guy said the F bomb.

I think someone at this link said the a-bomb: hdear:

http://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/daylight-shows-scenes-devastation-tianjin-least-17-dead-n408946
<<snipped>>

"It was like what we were told a nuclear bomb would be like," truck driver Zhao Zhencheng, who spent the night in the cab of his truck, told The Associated Press. "I've never even thought I'd see such a thing."

 

[Indy Anna]

Just horrible.

Dozens of firefighters reportedly missing after explosions in Chinese city

The death toll in a Chinese port city shaken by massive explosions was likely to rise Thursday as it was reported that authorities had lost contact with 36 firefighters at the scene of the blasts.

[.....]

Nine firefighters were also confirmed dead, though it was not clear whether they were among the 17 already reported as killed.

<<snipped>>

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2015/0...dly-missing-after-explosions-in-chinese-city/

 

[Indy Anna]

At least 44 people died, including 12 firefighters, after two massive explosions ripped through a warehouse facility in one of the world's busiest ports, Chinese state media reported.

<<snipped>>

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2015/08/13/firefighters-dead-china-explosions/31598019/

 

[zwiebel]

Russia Today saying they're not sure if the 9 dead firefighters are included in the total of 44 dead. The article is a little out of date though as Chinese State media have updated the number of firefighters missing to 12 now anyway. 500 injured, but that seems to be a very, very conservative number given the masses of people packing the hospitals.

The article also says a further 36 firefighters are missing. Or 'authorities have lost contact with them'. Either way it's ominous. And it's even more ominous that fire services have suspended efforts to fight the fires, citing questions about the nature of the 'dangerous goods' in the warehouse that exploded. Seems unbelievable that after all these hours, no-one knows exactly what exploded. It caused the equivalent of an earthquake, so people surely have a right to know?

Just my opinion, but once again Chinese authorities seem to be concentrating efforts on clamping down on anyone disseminating information that might put State emergency/rescue organization in a bad light. So there's very little info about how hospitals are coping or emergency shelters and searches for the injured and missing. There are photos flying around of people sleeping on the street, so it doesn't look as though things are going well.

http://www.rt.com/news/312292-china-tianjin-massive-blast/

 

[zwiebel]

I know the State says it was TNT. But not sure why that would make the aftermath too dangerous for firefighters?

http://www.rt.com/news/312292-china-tianjin-massive-blast/

 

[gngr~snap]

Ok just saw a "car" a mile away from explosion on
CNN. Oh muh gosh! Looks like little Manhattan had a bad "accident"

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[gngr~snap]

I know the State says it was TNT. But not sure why that would make the aftermath too dangerous for firefighters?

http://www.rt.com/news/312292-china-tianjin-massive-blast/

Equal to is how I took it. I'll re read it. I am probably wrong.

Equivalent..
"The first equivalent to 3 tons of TNT, and the second equivalent to 21 tons." so similar? But different!
It's a puzzle&#128521;
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