Explosions at a warehouse for dangerous materials in the northeastern Chinese port of Tianjin have killed at least 44 people, including at least a dozen firefighters, and injured nearly 400 and sent shockwaves through the city.
Chinese state news said the blasts started late on Wednesday after a container of "hazardous material" exploded in a warehouse around midnight local time.
State news agency Xinhua reported that at least 44 people had died and 32 of the injured were in critical condition in hospital after the explosions. At least 36 firefighters were initially reported missing by the state news agency.
The blasts knocked doors off buildings in the area and shattered windows up to several kilometres away.
There were no indications of what caused the blasts, and no immediate signs of any large release of toxic chemicals into the air.
Beijing News reported on its website that there was some unidentified yellow foam flowing at the site
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Police in Tianjin said an initial blast occurred at shipping containers in a warehouse for hazardous materials owned by Ruihai Logistics, a company that says it is properly approved to handle hazardous materials.
Close to the disaster zone, dazed people are wandering about the streets, many carrying what possessions they could grab before fleeing their homes.
"Others are sitting at roadsides, many clearly in shock. Those who can get out are fleeing.
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