REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, TIANJIN -- The death toll from a Tianjin warehouse blast Wednesday night has climbed to 17, according to rescuers, and another 32 people were critically injured and 283 people are under observation in hospital.
The blast ripped through the Ruihai warehouse, which stores dangerous goods, at 11:20 p.m. Wednesday, following a fire report half an hour earlier. Fireballs erupted then ignited more explosions in companies nearby, according to rescuers.
Two firefighters were "out of contact" and another four injured during the rescue, according to the Tianjin firebrigade. There are people trapped inside the blast site and rescue operation is still going on.
The wounded have been sent to several hospitals nearby. Xinhua reporters saw blood everywhere on the floors of hospitals.
Lu Yun, head of Taida Hospital, which has admitted some 150 injured people, told Xinhua that the injuries were mostly from broken glass or stones. Some of the injuries are serious.
The shockwaves were felt kilometers away, with window glass of buildings shattered.
The rolling doors and window glass of Donghai Road terminal station of Jinbin light railway, which serves as a major link between the Binhai New Area and the downtown Tianjin, were broken. Its roof also partially collapsed.
As of 3:00 a.m. Thursday, minor fires and blasts could still be seen from a far distance.
As soon as the explosion was under control, some taxi drivers and private car owners have voluntarily helped with sending the wounded to hospitals. Some hotels have provided free accommodation to residents displaced by the blast.
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