A massive explosion in the northern Chinese city of Tianjin just before midnight has killed at least 44 people, reports Mashable.
The Xinhua News Agency raised the death toll to 44, while earlier reports said at least 17 people have died, 32 critically hurt and 283 injured.
The explosion originated from RuiHai Logistics’ warehouse, at Tianjin Dongjiang Port in Tianjin’s Binhai district, east of the city’s main urban area. Two explosions occurred in succession, one after another.
Many have taken to social media to spread the news and call for help.
Images of casualties and damage in #Tianjin from Weibo: pic.twitter.com/lQuCgRSuhd
— Alejandro Alvarez (@aletweetsnews) August 12, 2015
tianjin explosion pic.twitter.com/FK5xjCz2Xk
— William Locke (@thelastnext) August 12, 2015
You can read eyewitness reports from the scene in Mashable.
You can also read about concerns of toxic pollution on CNN.