The most recent deadly explosions at the Tianjin Port is a reminder of the price that the Chinese are paying for trying to be the cheap producers of the world: expedited schedules, shoddy work, cheap material, unsafe work practices, contaminated products with metals and other contaminants (Chinese Drywall, Chinese garbage being provided to the world consumers), environmental pollution (water, air and soil pollution), and so on.
The death toll from Wednesday's huge blasts, at a warehouse storing hazardous materials, has reached 85, including 21 firefighters.
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Tianjin, China Explosion Area Evacuated over Sodium Cyanide Fears
by Alastair Jamieson and Reuters
Authorities ordered the evacuation of a 1.8-mile zone around the city of Tianjin Saturday as fresh explosions were heard and fires continued to rage - and new photos emerged of the devastated site.
The death toll from Wednesday's huge blasts, at a warehouse storing hazardous materials, has reached 85, including 21 firefighters.
Police have, for the first time, confirmed the presence of deadly sodium cyanide - fatal when ingested or inhaled - the state-run Beijing News said.
Police and military staff were deployed at checkpoints leading to the explosion site, and helicopters were hovering above.
Burning flames were still visible on Saturday, and new smaller explosions - thought to be from burning cars - have been reported by witnesses and state media.
"I do feel a bit afraid," said construction worker Li Shulan, 49, when asked about the air quality. "It definitely doesn't feel good. As you can see our boss is making us wear masks."
A huge hole is seen at the core area of Tianjin blasts in this aerial photo. Xinhua
A retired environmental official told reporters that air pollution posed no risk. "At the moment, the (air pollution) does not pose much danger to those in the vicinity," said Bao Jingling, a former engineer with the city's environmental protection bureau.
Harmful substances could not be detected in the air from 17 monitors placed around the city, said Bao.
About 6,300 people have been displaced by the blasts, with around 721 injured and 33 in serious condition, Xinhua news agency said. Shockwaves from the explosions were felt by residents in apartment blocks miles kilometers away in the city of 15 million people.
About a dozen family members of missing firefighters tried to storm a news conference, angry at a lack of information about their loved ones.
"We have gone to each and every hospital by ourselves and not found them," said Wang Baoxia, whose elder brother is missing.
"There is no government official willing to meet us. Not even one," she said. Relatives said around 25 fire fighters they said were missing were young contract workers not part of official city fire brigades.
Media have said such fire fighters in China, often only on two-year contracts, lack training as new recruits.
The death toll from Wednesday's huge blasts, at a warehouse storing hazardous materials, has reached 85, including 21 firefighters.
//------------------////
Tianjin, China Explosion Area Evacuated over Sodium Cyanide Fears
by Alastair Jamieson and Reuters
Authorities ordered the evacuation of a 1.8-mile zone around the city of Tianjin Saturday as fresh explosions were heard and fires continued to rage - and new photos emerged of the devastated site.
The death toll from Wednesday's huge blasts, at a warehouse storing hazardous materials, has reached 85, including 21 firefighters.
Police have, for the first time, confirmed the presence of deadly sodium cyanide - fatal when ingested or inhaled - the state-run Beijing News said.
Police and military staff were deployed at checkpoints leading to the explosion site, and helicopters were hovering above.
Burning flames were still visible on Saturday, and new smaller explosions - thought to be from burning cars - have been reported by witnesses and state media.
"I do feel a bit afraid," said construction worker Li Shulan, 49, when asked about the air quality. "It definitely doesn't feel good. As you can see our boss is making us wear masks."
A huge hole is seen at the core area of Tianjin blasts in this aerial photo. Xinhua
A retired environmental official told reporters that air pollution posed no risk. "At the moment, the (air pollution) does not pose much danger to those in the vicinity," said Bao Jingling, a former engineer with the city's environmental protection bureau.
Harmful substances could not be detected in the air from 17 monitors placed around the city, said Bao.
About 6,300 people have been displaced by the blasts, with around 721 injured and 33 in serious condition, Xinhua news agency said. Shockwaves from the explosions were felt by residents in apartment blocks miles kilometers away in the city of 15 million people.
About a dozen family members of missing firefighters tried to storm a news conference, angry at a lack of information about their loved ones.
"We have gone to each and every hospital by ourselves and not found them," said Wang Baoxia, whose elder brother is missing.
"There is no government official willing to meet us. Not even one," she said. Relatives said around 25 fire fighters they said were missing were young contract workers not part of official city fire brigades.
Media have said such fire fighters in China, often only on two-year contracts, lack training as new recruits.