China blasts toll rises to 135

The death toll from the Tianjin warehouse explosions rises to 135 as of Tuesday afternoon, according to the latest data from rescue authorities.

The insured losses from a series of explosions at a chemical warehouse in Tianjin on 12 August are “likely to be material” for Chinese insurance companies, potentially exceeding $1 – 1.5 billion, said Fitch Ratings, as the “high insurance penetration rate in this area could make the blasts one of the most costly catastrophe claims for the Chinese insurance sector in the last few years”.

An updated catalog of industries either restricted or banned from Beijing released on Monday suggests almost 80% of all business sectors will be cleared from the six districts that constitute downtown Beijing, where quality of life has been compromised by air pollution, traffic congestion and dwindling resources. In the report, 70 firefighters and seven police officers were added among the victims, and 44 four people are still missing.

The government is expected to reach its goal of coordinated development in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, known as the Jingjinji area, by 2030, an official from a working team dealing with the plan said on Sunday, August 23, the Xinhua News Agency reported.

To date, more than 600 people are still in hospitals, with 39 under serious condition, after the explosions damaged 17,000 homes.

Prior to the incident, authorities have confirmed that more than 700 tonnes of highly toxic substances, primarily sodium cyanide, were stored at the warehouse where the explosions began. Workers have partially restored power supply for some damaged buildings. Only 95 people remain in a school used as a temporary sheltering point. Ltd, including company head Yu Xuewei, a former executive at a state-run chemical company, and deputy head Dong Shexuan, son of a former police chief for Tianjin Port.The State Council, China’s cabinet, has promised a thorough investigation into the deadly blasts.