Explosion rocks Chinese city of Tianjin; dozens reported injured

Two large explosions have hit an industrial area in the Chinese city of Tianjin, killing at least 17 people and injuring at least 300, according to officials and state media.

A hospital told People’s Daily, China they have already received 300 to 400 patients with injuries.

Beijing News said the explosions shattered windows and knocked doors off of buildings in the area. Xinhua said for its part reports that flaming debris from the first explosion triggered the other. According to Xinhua, the shock wave caused by the explosion was felt several miles away.

Photos apparently taken by bystanders and circulating online on microblogs show a very big fireball high in the sky, with a mushroom-cloud. It said the firefighters were combing the neighborhood to look for further injured residents.

“It was like what we were told a nuclear bomb would be like”, said truck driver Zhao Zhencheng, who spent the night in the cab of his truck.

The explosion in Tianjin erupted at a container port where flammable material was being stored, reported CCTV, China’s state-owned broadcaster.

Ruihai Logistics says on its website that it was established in 2011 and is an approved company for handling hazardous materials.

It is one of only four cities in China – along with Beijing, Shanghai and Chongqing – to have the status of a province.