Topic: Huge Explosion In Tianjin, China - page 3. (Read 5486 times)

Chinese authorities have ordered the evacuation of residents within a 3km radius of the Tianjin blast site over fears of chemical contamination.

The evacuations came after an apparent change in wind direction, and as police confirmed the highly toxic chemical sodium cyanide was found near the site.

At least 112 people died in the blasts, officials said on Sunday, and more than 700 have been hospitalised.

Officials have identified 24 of the dead, with 88 still to be identified.

Remarkably, a man was found alive just 50m from the blast core, Chinese state news agency Xinhua reported.

The man was able to talk when he was found and is now in hospital, according to the report.

Latest pictures of the aftermath

People sheltering at a school used as a safe haven since the disaster have now been asked to leave wearing masks and long trousers, reports say.

The order came after a change in wind direction, prompting fears that toxic particles that would have been blown out to sea could be blown inland.

Troops equipped with chemical warfare protection have now entered the site of the blasts.

The People's Daily newspaper tweeted that the specialist troops had been sent to handle the highly toxic sodium cyanide found at the site.

Police said the discovery occurred "roughly east of the blast site" in an industrial zone, according to state-run Beijing News.

Officials had until then only confirmed the presence of calcium carbide, potassium nitrate and sodium nitrate. Calcium carbide reacts with water to create the highly explosive acetylene.

Officials have so far insisted that air and water quality levels are safe.

Meanwhile Chinese President Xi Jinping urged the authorities to learn the "extremely profound" lessons and keep "safe growth" and "people's interest first" in mind to avoid similar accidents.
What is sodium cyanide?

The chemical sodium cyanide is white crystalline or granular powder which can be rapidly fatal if inhaled or ingested, as it interferes with the body's ability to use oxygen.

It is mostly used in chemical manufacturing, for fumigation and in the mining industry to extract gold and silver.

It is soluble in water, and absorbs water from air, and its dust is also easy to inhale. When dissolved or burned, it releases the highly poisonous gas hydrogen cyanide.

Potent chemical mix behind blasts

What we know about explosions

The questions being asked by Chinese citizens

'Hero' firefighters hailed:

'Like the end of the world': Residents' stories

Some fires have continued to smoulder and at least one reignited on Saturday. Xinhua said several cars at the site had "exploded again".

Of the 721 people injured, 25 are in critical condition and 33 are serious.

At least 21 firefighters are among the dead and an unknown number remain missing.

Dozens of relatives of the missing tried to disrupt a news conference given by officials on Saturday, demanding to know the fate of their loved ones.

"We have gone to each and every hospital by ourselves and not found them," Reuters news agency quoted Wang Baoxia, whose elder brother is missing, as saying.

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

The operators of the Tianjin site have been accused of violating safety rules.

The Chinese government has ordered officials to make nationwide checks on dangerous chemicals and explosives and to "crack down unwaveringly on illegal activities to ensure safety"

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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-33945293

That's a big hole.

I don't see the logic in denying reports like this - it was a goddamn chemical plant that exploded!  So they censor this report, hoping people think China is forcing them to stay?

CNN is reporting that the death toll has surpassed 100 mark (according to the government, the toll stands at 105 now). Well... these are the official figures. We might never know the real death toll. That said, the government officials are denying news reports that they have issued evacuation orders for people who are staying nearby.

Even social media users will be having difficulty in getting accurate information. The entire area is cordoned off, and only military personnel and members of paramilitary formations are allowed inside. Likewise, ordinary people (including relatives of the dead) are being prevented from visiting the hospitals and morgues, where the bodies are kept.

They'll find more, the trouble is that the Chinese media can't publish anything without being censored. Same for social media, apparently any posts about deaths are being deleted instantly

I don't know, but on the CDC page I linked to it says "Sodium cyanide is water-reactive." That means it would react when touched with water right?

More from that page:

 Sodium cyanide is shipped as pellets or briquettes. It absorbs water from air (is hygroscopic or deliquescent).

METHODS OF DISSEMINATION:

    Indoor Air: Sodium cyanide can be released into indoor air as fine droplets, liquid spray (aerosol), or fine particles.
    Water: Sodium cyanide can be used to contaminate water.
    Food: Sodium cyanide can be used to contaminate food.
    Outdoor Air: Sodium cyanide can be released into outdoor air as fine droplets, liquid spray (aerosol), or fine particles.
    Agricultural: If sodium cyanide is released as fine droplets, liquid spray (aerosol), or fine particles, it has the potential to contaminate agricultural products.

ROUTES OF EXPOSURE: Sodium cyanide can affect the body through ingestion, inhalation, skin contact, or eye contact.

I saw a video of someone (in hazmat/cleanup outfit) pouring water on this bubbling puddle on the ground, which then burst into flames  The worker was asian but I'm not 100% it was recorded at Tianjin...anyone know what I'm referring to?

China explosions: New blasts reported in Tianjin as residents evacuated over chemical fears



Evacuations as chemical fears grow at China blast site

"Residents living close to the site of giant explosions in the Chinese port of Tianjin have been evacuated over fears of toxic contamination as new fires ignited....."

Wind change at China blast site prompts 'orderly' evacuation

From post 27 - "hazardous chemicals stored by the company concerned include sodium cyanide (NaCN), toluene diisocyanate (TDI) and calcium carbide (CaC2)"

CDC: SODIUM CYANIDE : Systemic Agent

"Sodium cyanide releases hydrogen cyanide gas, a highly toxic chemical asphyxiant that interferes with the body's ability to use oxygen. Exposure to sodium cyanide can be rapidly fatal."

It doesn't look good. I was concerned as soon as I heard there were chemicals stored there...

I sympathize with the families of the victims

Hmm... according to the latest reports, some 17 firefighters lost their lives. Reminds me of the Chernobyl disaster in 1986. On that occasion also, the firefighters were sent to handle the situation, without adequate precautionary measures. Some of them died within a few hours time, the others survived for a few days more.

RT @PDChina : #Update: anti-chemical warfare corps are sent to handle highly toxic sodium cyanide discovered at #TianjinBlast site




RT @PDChina: Govt did not organize 'evacuation within 2km radius' of blast site: #Tianjin authorities clarify at latest press con.

This is extremely bad
The photos are scaring

the blast only destroyed most properties within 150 meter range. nuclear will completely obliterate anything within 1KM range. so yeah. it's still far weaker.

RT @PDChina: #Breaking: new explosions happened at #TianjinBlast site Sat. All within radius of 3km have been forcibly evacuated

Zone 2 kilometers evacuated, No disclosure of what is released into the atmosphere and how toxic... 85 dead

Just saw the latest data - Tianjin explosion is estimated to be ~21 tons TNT equivalent. That's ~700 times weaker than Hiroshima bomb and ~ 2.7 million times weaker than the most powerful bomb ever tested.

Looking at this, it's hard to imagine that it's still far weaker than a nuke.

The first dispatched firefighters and police to the location are all dead, they went there expecting a gas station on fire, but what happened after was a big scale chemical explosion.