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2015 Tianjin explosions

Coordinates: 39°02′20″N 117°44′14″E / 39.0389°N 117.7371°E / 39.0389; 117.7371
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2015 Tianjin explosions
Fireball from the first explosion
Date12 August 2015
Time~23:30 CST (~15:30 UTC)
VenuePort of Tianjin
LocationBinhai, Tianjin, China
Coordinates39°02′20″N 117°44′14″E / 39.0389°N 117.7371°E / 39.0389; 117.7371
TypeExplosion
CauseUnder investigation
Deaths104+ (including 21 firefighters)[1]
Non-fatal injuries721+ (including 58 severe injuries)[2]
Missing36 firefighters
Publication bansChinese authorities reportedly attempted to censor professional and social media reports.
FootageVideo

Template:Contains Chinese text

On 12 August 2015, at least two explosions within 30 seconds of each other occurred at a container storage station at the Port of Tianjin in the Binhai New Area of Tianjin, China.[3][4] The cause of the explosions was not immediately known, but initial reports pointed to an industrial accident.[4] Chinese state media said that at least the initial blast was from unknown hazardous materials in shipping containers at a plant warehouse owned by Ruihai Logistics,[5] a firm specializing in handling hazardous materials.[3]

Background

Tianjin Dongjiang Port Ruihai International Logistics (天津东疆保税港区瑞海国际物流有限公司), or Ruihai Logistics (瑞海物流), is a privately held logistics company which was established in 2011. It handles hazardous chemicals within the Port of Tianjin, such as compressed air, flammable and corrosive substances, oxidizing agents, and toxic chemicals. The company is designated by the Tianjin Maritime Safety Administration (天津海事局) as an approved agent for handling these hazardous chemicals.[6] Its 46,000 m2 (495,000 ft2) site contains multiple warehouses for hazardous goods, a fire pump and a fire pond, and the corporation employs 70 staff.[7]

The warehouse building, owned by Ruihai Logistics, is recorded in a 2014 government document as being a hazardous chemical storage facility for calcium carbide, sodium nitrate, and potassium nitrate.[8] Nevertheless, the authorities admitted that poor record keeping, damage to the office facilities and "major discrepancies" with customs meant that they were unable to identify the substances stored.[9]

Explosions

Map of the port area

The first reports of a fire began coming in at around 22:50 local time (14:50 UTC) at a warehouse in the Binhai New Area. The first to respond to the fire were unable to keep it from spreading. At around 23:30 (15:30 UTC), the first explosion occurred that registered as a magnitude 2.3 earthquake. Initial reports estimate that the first explosion was equivalent to 3 tonnes of TNT. Shortly after this initial explosion, a second more powerful one occurred which caused most of the damage and injuries with shockwaves being felt many kilometres away. The second explosion has been estimated to be equivalent to 21 tonnes of TNT. The resulting fireballs reached hundreds of meters high.[10][11][12][13]

Global Times reported that firefighters who first arrived on the scene proceeded to douse the fire with water, as they were unaware that dangerous chemicals were stored on the site, thereby setting in chain more violent chemical reactions.[14] At 02:45 (18:45 UTC), police confirmed that at least seven people had died as a result of a large explosion at a warehouse storing dangerous materials. Beijing News also confirm that around 300–400 people have been injured.[15]

At 14:30 (06:30 UTC) on 13 August, firefighting was suspended due to the uncertainty of the content and quantity of hazardous materials being stored on site. A team of over 200 chemical specialists were deployed to the site to assess the hazardous materials on site, dangers to the environment and how to best proceed with putting out the remaining fires, search and rescue, and the clean-up operation.[16]

Casualties

Communities amounting to up to 5,600 people are know to exist within a kilometre of the plant.[14] According to the Tianjin government, more than 700 people were injured by the explosion,[17] many with extensive injuries, mostly from burns and explosive blast injuries. Over a thousand firefighters were on scene, 21 of whom have died.[18] Contact was lost with 36 firefighters, but one survivor was found on the morning of 14 August 2015, 19-year-old firefighter Zhou Ti (周倜[19]).[3][20][21][22][23]

Several reports stated that at least 71 people were severely injured, and more than 100 were killed.[17] The official death toll was reported as 104 by state broadcaster CCTV.[23]

Damage

Wrecked cars and buildings damaged by a shockwave in a residential area near the facility.

Photographs and videos show extensive destruction in the area around the warehouse.[24][25] The explosions were photographed from space by the Japanese satellite Himawari.[26] The buildings of seven logistics companies were destroyed, along with more than eight thousand new cars in a nearby parking lot.[27][28] Apartment blocks 2 km (1.2 mi) from the site sustained shattered glass, the loss of roof tiles and damage to ceilings.[23]

Nearby Donghai Road Station suffered severe damage as a result of the explosions and is closed indefinitely. Line 9 of Tianjin Metro has been closed down since 13 August.[29]

The Tianhe-1A supercomputer was shut down after the National Supercomputing Center of Tianjin was damaged by the blasts. The computer was not damaged and was still functional.[30]

Pollution

There were at least 700 tonnes of highly toxic sodium cyanide stored at the site,[31] and leakage has been found in the sewer.[32][33] On 13 August, officials stated that they had detected the toxic gases sulphur dioxide, carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides within 500 m (1,600 ft) of the origin of the explosion, but the levels conformed with national standards. The gases were (at the time) undetected 2 km (1.2 mi) from the fire.[9]

Evacuation

On 15 August 2015, the Xinhua News Agency reported that authorities ordered the evacuation of residents within a 3km radius of the blast site, prompted by the threat of "toxic substances."[34]

Response

The morning following the explosion military personnel began to arrive in Tianjin to help with the search and recovery efforts. Extra equipment, such as bulldozers, were brought in to help with the clean-up operation. Over 200 nuclear and biochemical experts, including a team from the International Atomic Energy Agency, have begun arriving in Tianjin to assess the health risks from the chemicals being released into the atmosphere. Government personnel have set up 12 temporary monitoring stations near the blast site with "harmful air pollutants" being detected above normal levels. A nearby drainage outlet has also been closed, and water quality is being tested.[35]

Rescue personnel are currently trying to remove all 700 tonnes of sodium cyanide stored at the site, with hydrogen peroxide being prepared to neutralise the chemicals.[36]

More than 3,500 area residents are staying in temporary shelters.[36] The government issued an evacuation order over concerns of further explosions; not all residents complied.[23]

Guo Shengkun, the Chinese Minister of Public Security, visited the blast site in Tianjin and called for all-out efforts to save lives.[37]

Media coverage

Vedio

Chinese authorities reportedly attempted to censor professional and social media reports. Journalists and bystanders were restricted to about 1–2 km (0.62–1.24 mi) from the explosion site. [neutrality is disputed] Social media users have reported that their posts regarding the blasts are being deleted, with the words "Tianjin" and "explosion" having become the most censored on Weibo[disambiguation needed].[38][39][40][41] Journalists were kept away from the blast site.[42] It was also reported that eight hours after the explosion, Tianjin Television Satellite Channel was not reporting on the event, instead showing soap operas,[39][41][42] but in fact they reported that explosion early in the morning news at 7 am,[43] and as a policy no satellite television channels may broadcast unscheduled content without obtaining a permission. Local television channels did report live on the event as soon as possible.[44] Government Tianjin authorities banned editors and reporters from sharing information about the disaster on Weibo and WeChat, and websites have been advised to follow state media.[45] The Tianjin Internet Police "warned social media users to stick to official reports about the number of dead and injured".[46]

A CNN correspondent, Will Ripley, who took photos outside TEDA Hospital, was interrupted during a live report by upset relatives of the victims.[39][47]

Apart from the above and alike, Chinese medias have had extensive coverage about this matter, including state, non-state, . Their opinions and stances vary greatly, ranging from mere

Reactions

  •  Belgium: Minister of Foreign Affairs Didier Reynders expressed his sincere condolences to the authorities and the people of China and "is saddened by the disaster". [48]
  •  China: China Central Television reported that President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang had urged "all-out efforts to rescue victims and extinguish the fire".[4]
  •  Malaysia: Prime Minister Najib Razak has offered his condolence over the tragedy. He said "My thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of the lives lost and injured in the Tianjin blasts. Deepest condolences to the people of China".[49]
  •  Russia: On 13 August, the Kremlin press service released a statement on behalf of President Vladimir Putin stating "Putin conveyed words of compassion and support to the relatives and friends of those who died in the accident and wished soonest recovery to those who were injured in the explosions."[50]
  •  Seychelles: President James Michel has sent a message of sympathy to the Chinese President. “We offer our thoughts to the bereaved families of the victims and to all those injured in this incident. May they find strength in these trying times”.[51]
  •  Singapore: President Tony Tan Keng Yam and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong conveyed their condolences. President Tan said that "Tianjin is also home to many Singaporeans", as many Singaporeans work in the Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-city. We thanked the government of Tianjin Municipality for the assistance provided to affected Singaporeans. While Prime Minister Lee "was shocked" and offered his country assistance to Tianjin authorities.[52]
  •  South Africa: President Jacob Zuma conveyed his condolences, “Our thoughts are with the people of China in the aftermath of the explosion that has struck the city of Tianjin. On behalf of the Government and people of South Africa, I send my deepest condolences to the Government of China, and to everyone affected, particularly to the families and friends of those killed and injured”.[53]
  •  Taiwan: The Mainland Affairs Council and Straits Exchange Foundation expressed concern and offered help to Mainland authorities. The Democratic Progressive Party extended its condolences.[54]
  •  United Kingdom: In a statement released by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Foreign Secretary Phillip Hammond expressed his condolences for the loss of lives in the Tianjin explosion and Shaanxi landslide.[55]
  •  United States: In a statement released by the White House, United States President Barack Obama conveyed his condolences, and those of the American people. The White House also praised the actions of the first responders.[56]

See also

References

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External links

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