Video and photographs of a massive explosion in Tianjin, China, have begun surfacing on Twitter, Sina Weibo, and other social media sites as authorities scramble to find the cause of the explosion and those caught in proximity to the fire, whose cause appears still unknown.
The BBC is reporting only that the cause of the fire is unknown, though many are speculating on social media that it is gas or chemical related. Unconfirmed reports claim the explosion began at a gas station. Videos taken from a far distance show the magnitude of the explosion, which later topples the eyewitness taking the footage to the ground with its force. The Chinese state outlet People’s Daily is attributing the explosion to “explosive material in container at terminal in Binhai Dist.”
Vid of the Tianjin explosion… pic.twitter.com/MyPioZViCn
— Maximus (@MaxVenator) August 12, 2015
Matt Simon, a reporter for China’s CCTV, reports that “2 or 3” explosions occurred, all seemingly creating a gigantic mushroom cloud. He notes that reporters indicate the explosion appears to be “something related to gas or oil,” and there is potentially a chemical leak in the areas still standing. He also confirms bodies are strewn throughout the city, but will not post images of them out of respect for the dead and their families.
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
— Matt Simon (@MSimonTV) August 12, 2015
Some images circulating on Twitter show victims of the explosion, presumably close enough to feel the impact but not be engulfed by flames, drenched in blood:
tianjin explosion pic.twitter.com/FK5xjCz2Xk
— William Locke (@thelastnext) August 12, 2015
Injuries reported and rushed to hospital in #Tianjin #Binhai Zone explosing. Strongly felt in neighbourhood. pic.twitter.com/84y1sgPwbn
— Olivier Fehr (@ofehr_en) August 12, 2015
Aftermath in Tianjin #China pic.twitter.com/SFVGnjl1Rb
— Gissur Simonarson (@GissiSim) August 12, 2015
Shockwaves from #Tianjinblast felt kilometers away. Injured sent to hospital. http://t.co/yfckCsW6oX pic.twitter.com/CGh9mcv7SI
— China Xinhua News (@XHNews) August 12, 2015
China’s state news agency Xinhua has confirmed that the explosion caused an “earthquake,” and that officials still do not know the cause or the number of casualties, but that casualties are almost certain to have occurred:
#Breaking: Massive explosion rocks N China’s #Tianjin, cause & casualties unclear yet (web sources) @BreakingNews pic.twitter.com/GOG8Q7OWew
— China Xinhua News (@XHNews) August 12, 2015
Update: Xinhua reporting that the explosion was caused by “inflammables and explosives, and that the local hospital has received at least 50 patients and counting:
Update: Hospital says it has received over 50 wounded from #Tianjin blast, new ones keep coming pic.twitter.com/OeBYcGiVMd
— China Xinhua News (@XHNews) August 12, 2015
Update:#Tianjin explosion reportedly caused by inflammables & explosives at container terminal, hundreds hospitalized pic.twitter.com/c2BUYhkrE1
— China Xinhua News (@XHNews) August 12, 2015
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