Deadly Tianjin explosion seen from space: Aerial pictures show devastation in Chinese city as residents are evicted from two-mile radius of blast site

• Shocking aerial pictures taken above the site of the colossal Tianjin blast reveal the full extent of the devastation 
• Police confirmed presence of sodium cyanide, which is fatal when ingested or inhaled, 'roughly east of blast site'
• At least 85 people were killed and hundreds more hurt in the apocalyptic blasts in the Chinese port on Wednesday 
• Burning flames are still visible in the area, and explosions have been reported by witnesses and state media

By Khaleda Rahman For Mailonline

Published: 03:34 EST, 15 August 2015 | Updated: 19:57 EST, 15 August 2015

Shocking aerial pictures taken above the site of the colossal Tianjin explosion have revealed the full extent of the devastation wreaked by the chemical blast.  

Chinese authorities ordered the immediate evacuation of all residents within a two-mile radius of the epicentre of the facility - now reduced to a giant crater - as it was revealed that deadly sodium cyanide was present at the site.

These included those who had taken refuge in a school near the site of the explosions after a change in wind direction prompted fears that toxic chemical particles could be blown inland.

Police confirmed the presence of the chemical, which is fatal when ingested or inhaled, was 'roughly east of the blast site' in an industrial zone in the northeastern port city of Tianjin - amid contamination fears from blasts and fires that continue to rage.

But they did not say how much had been found or how great a risk it posed, according to the state-run Beijing News.

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Shocking aerial pictures taken above the site of the colossal Tianjin explosion reveal the true extent of the devastation wreaked by the chemical blast

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Chinese authorities ordered the immediate evacuation of all residents of within a two-mile radius flattened industrial zone in the north east of the country yesterday

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Police confirmed the presence of the sodium cyanide, which is fatal when ingested or inhaled, was 'roughly east of the blast site'

No cyanide had been found in the ocean surrounding the port, said the State Oceanic Administration of China in a post on its official website. 

But at an afternoon news conference, officials declined to discuss pollution concerns, referring reporters to other departments. 

The evacuation came as a fire broke out again at the site of the blasts at a warehouse specially designed to store dangerous chemicals, the official Xinhua news agency said.

The streets appeared calm as evacuees were advised to wear long trousers and face masks as they 'evacuated in an orderly fashion', according to a post on the official microblog of the Tianjin branch of the National Health and Family Planning Commission of China

But there were emotional scenes as families of missing firefighters demanded answers about their loves ones at a press conference today, while officials tried to keep media cameras away. 

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Damage: An aerial shot shows a massive hole at the core area of explosion site after Wednesday's warehouse fire that left 85 people dead

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Break: Chinese firefighters rest as they wait to be deployed near the site of an explosion in northeastern China's Tianjin municipality

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Checks: 70 specialised anti-chemical soldiers entered the core area of the blasts site this morning to monitor chemical contamination

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Rescue mission: With the death toll expected to rise, soldiers donned gas masks as they prepared to search for those missing 

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Deadly: Chinese police confirmed for the first time today that hat deadly sodium cyanide was present at the site of the Tianjan blasts

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Saved: A 50-year-old man was rescued 50 metres away from the blast zone today and was in a stable condition after surviving three days in a shipping container

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Recovering: An excavator works amid masses of destroyed containers at the explosion site in the aftermath of the huge explosion

This morning, a total of 70 specialized anti-chemical soldiers entered the core area of the blasts site on Saturday morning to monitor chemical contamination and launch a rescue mission.. 

Today, a 50-year-old man was rescued 50 metres away from the blast zone. The man was suffering from a burnt respiratory tract, but was in a stable condition after surviving three days in a shipping container. 

At least 85 people were killed and hundreds more hurt in the apocalyptic blasts in the Chinese port on Wednesday. Burning flames are still visible today, and explosions have been reported by witnesses and state media.

Police and military staff are deployed at checkpoints leading to the explosion site, and helicopters are hovering above. 

Authorities are warning the death tolls, which includes at least 21 firefighters, looks set to rise further following the disaster. 

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Contamination fears: A two-mile zone has been evacuated prompted by the threat of 'toxic substances' spreading. Pictured: smoke rises as damaged vehicles are seen burning near the site of Wednesday's explosions

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Missing: At least 85 people were killed with the death toll set to rise. Pictured: firefighters wearing gas masks search the blast site today 

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More: Damaged cars exploded and triggered new blasts after the fire in Tianjin Warehouse fire left 721 others people in hospital

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Bleak: Authorities are warning the death tolls, which includes at least 21 firefighters, looks set to rise further following the disaster. Pictured: Firefighters work at the site after the massive explosion

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Distraught: The mother of missing firefighter Xue Ning is comforted by family members as she cries outside a news conference after trying to demand more information from government officials

But miraculously, a 19-year-old firefighter was pulled alive from the rubble 32 hours later. 

Incredible footage showed Zhou Ti being freed around dawn on Friday morning after he was trapped for two days under rubble from the explosion.

He was taken to a hospital, where he is being treated for face, chest and foot injuries.

The blasts originated in a warehouse storing toxic chemicals and now, some residents have expressed concern that the air and water could have been poisoned.

When asked about air quality, construction worker Li Shulan, 49, told Reuters: 'I do feel a bit afraid. It definitely doesn't feel good. As you can see our boss is making us wear masks.'

An area two miles from the site was cordoned off while one school, which had been set up as a safe haven for residents living close to the danger area, had since been evacuated, according to Beijing News. It did not give a reason.

More than 700 injured and evacuated people were staying at the emergency shelter in the primary school in the Binhai New Area.

On Saturday, there were about seven small explosions in the area, according to a post on the micro-blog of the official China Central Television. 

 

Rescued firefighter recalls apocalyptic Tianjin blast

 

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Miraculous: Zhou Ti, 19, was freed by rescuers around dawn on Friday morning after he was trapped for two days from the explosion

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Destroyed: Grim scenes show burnt-out vehicles and a building which was completely gutted in the blasts on Wednesday

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Fear: Smoking debris can still be seen at the explosion site as police ordered residents to evacuate buildings within a two-mile radius

A witness told Reuters that a fresh blaze ignited cars in a parking lot next to the blast site, but the cause was not immediately clear. State media carried reports of other fires in the area.

A retired environmental official told reporters that air pollution posed no risk.

Bao Jingling, a former engineer with the city's environmental protection bureau, said: 'At the moment, the (air pollution) does not pose much danger to those in the vicinity,' said

Harmful substances could not be detected in the air from 17 monitors placed around the city, he added.

Around 6,300 people have been displaced by the blasts with around 721 injured and 33 in a serious condition, Xinhua news agency said. 

Shockwaves from the explosions were felt by residents in apartment blocks miles away in the city of 15 million people. Twenty-one of the dead were fire fighters.

About a dozen family members of missing firefighters tried to storm Mr Bao's press conference, angry at the lack of information about their loved ones.

Wang Baoxia, whose brother is missing, said: 'We have gone to each and every hospital by ourselves and not found them.

'There is no government official willing to meet us. Not even one.' 

Relatives said around 25 missing firefighters were young contract workers not part of official city fire brigades. Media reports have said such firefighters in China, often only on two-year contracts, lack training as new recruits.

After Wednesday's blasts, fire crews were criticised for using water to douse flames, which may have contributed to the blasts given the volatile nature of the chemicals involved.

Industrial accidents are not uncommon in China following three decades of fast growth. Last year, a blast at an auto parts factory killed 75 people.

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Ablaze: Several vehicles are seen burning following blasts in Tianjin municipality late Wednesday evening, which killed at least 85 people

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3199058/China-orders-evacuation-residents-two-mile-radius-Tianjin-blast-site-police-confirm-area-contaminated-deadly-CYANIDE.html#ixzz3izHbSuMi
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