Huge fireballs erupted at a warehouse for dangerous goods in the northeastern Chinese Port of Tianjin on Wednesday evening.
At least 47 have died, and at least 500 people have been injured, over 60 seriously.
Over 10 firefighters are reported missing, and at least six have been wounded.
Two explosions, the second about 30 seconds after the first, occurred in shipping containers that contained a shipment of explosives in the warehouse, reports Xinhua news agency. The blast was felt miles away.
The owner of the warehouse has been identified as Tianjin Dongjiang Port Ruihai International Logistics.
Along with massive air and water pollution, China’s industrial safety record has been called into question. In July, 15 people died when an illegal fireworks warehouse exploded in the northern Hebei province.