China explosions: Chemical specialists sent to Tianjin

BBC ^ | 8/13/15

[Kartographer]

China has sent a team of military specialists in handling chemicals to the northern city of Tianjin, after warehouse explosions left at least 50 dead, state media report.

The blasts, late on Wednesday night, ripped through an industrial port area, destroying buildings, shipping containers and thousands of new cars.

It is not known what caused the blasts, nor whether chemicals have leaked.

More than 3,500 residents are spending the night in temporary shelters.

[Kartographer]

Only 50 dead? Yeah right..

[Minutemen]

You just cannot manufacture fortune cookies along side of a munitions factory.

[dfwgator]

Just as long as they don’t send anybody from the EPA, they’ll be fine.

[T-Bone Texan]

“More than 3,500 residents are spending the night in temporary shelters.”

More like “More than 3,500 residents have been blown to bits”.

A friend sent me a link to CCTV footage of folks in the area getting blown up. Way more than 50 people just in that footage.

[dfwgator]

I suspect there are a lot of people whom they’ll never be able to find the remains.

[Kartographer]

"You just cannot manufacture fortune cookies along side of a munitions factory."

Hey! That would make a great proverb to put into fortune cookies!

[ltc8k6]

Yeah, that’s a massive amount of damage.

[DUMBGRUNT]

Did 0bama offer any help?

More like he sat in the cart as the chauffeur drove him to the next hole.

[Catmom]

Did you see the video of the blast and shock wave? It was like old fims of a-tests at the Nevada test site.

[wtd]

Two clues:

• Slide show of images illustrating aftermath. FF 1:36 for view of skeletal remains of residence hall for workers. Household goods scattered...human toll, given the hour of the blasts must be much higher than current reports reveal.

• videographer drive by @ ground zero on highway visible on your image Notice abandoned vehicles which remain on highway are badly damaged, all glass blown out, but as he passes one truck the engine is heard still idling. The drivers of those vehicles must have sustained serious injuries or died. The casualty numbers are not believable.

[wtd]

"Did you see the video of the blast and shock wave? It was like old fims of a-tests at the Nevada test site. - Catmom

• Last scene in RT raw video clip brings the shock wave up close and personal

[T-Bone Texan]

Thanks for the great links!

[gaijin]

Later

[NormsRevenge]

Wow,, just wow.. obliteration,, we went thru there last fall.. the port itself is hugh, the city 15 million.. , a lot of stuff transits thru here..

It’s not quite a Japan tsunami level of destruction,, but it is pretty bad nonetheless..

[wtd]

Here's another perspective...Dashcam video clip of someone entering a gated complex, hesitates when flames become visible on horizon ahead, backs slowly away after initial blast with several people entering street and running in his direction, then all hell breaks loose with second blast

[SE Mom]

https://mobile.twitter.com/MSimonTV?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor

Another big explosion at steel factory...different province though.

Been watching this guy on twitter, he’s doing a good job.

[T-Bone Texan]

Wow! That was intense!

Shockwave very apparent.