Huge explosion injures hundreds in northern China

State media say hundreds in hospital after container terminal blast rocked Tianjin and lit up sky with plumes of flame.

 

Shockwaves from the blast could reportedly be felt several kilometres away.

A massive explosion at a container terminal has rocked the northern Chinese city of Tianjin, injuring hundreds of people, state media reported.
The exact cause of Wednesday's blast in an industrial area is still unknown, but the People's Daily newspaper reported that it was sparked by "combustible and explosive goods".
The paper said 300-400 people had been taken to hospital and that tremors could be felt 10km away.
According to the Tianjin Public Security Bureau, the blast happened at the Tianjin Dongjiang Port Rui Hai International Logistics Company, which handles the transport of hazardous goods.
The official Xinhua news agency said the explosion happened at 11:30pm local time, when a deafening bang was heard as plumes of flame that lit up the sky could be seen from afar.
There were unconfirmed reports of several deaths.

The area where the blast happened has many factories but also apartment buildings.
"An explosion ripped through a warehouse storing 'dangerous goods' in north China's Tianjin City late Wednesday night," Xinhua said.
Videos posted on Weibo, a Chinese social network, showed a massive fireball shooting into the air and at least two separate explosions.
The China Earthquake Networks Center reported that the first explosion had a 2.3 degree magnitude, and the second had a 2.9 degree magnitude.