This was either the explosion of a ship carrying, well, explosives, per the Guardian, or, per the BBC, the explosion of a petroleum refinery.
The latest state claim is that it was a warehouse containing expolsives.
There is, as the BBC's clip of a report from China says, "confusion" as to the cause.
50 people were injured. Two firefighters are missing. This occurred in Tianjin, a port city to the southeast of Beijing.
Update: 300 injured now.
Video: State media says at least 300 people have been injured in a huge explosion at the port of Tianjin in China https://t.co/DUM96fi7Hp— Sky News Tonight (@SkyNewsTonight) August 12, 2015
Video: State media says at least 300 people have been injured in a huge explosion at the port of Tianjin in China https://t.co/DUM96fi7Hp
China's earthquake agency says it registered 2 blasts. The energy of the second was measured at 2.9 on the Richter scale, or 21 tons of TNT.— Alan Wong (@alanwongw) August 12, 2015
China's earthquake agency says it registered 2 blasts. The energy of the second was measured at 2.9 on the Richter scale, or 21 tons of TNT.
#Tianjin: Hospital has received 300-400 injuries. 2 fire fighter lost contact, 6 injured. 38 fire engines on scene. pic.twitter.com/ZN11gpdra3— People's Daily,China (@PDChina) August 12, 2015
#Tianjin: Hospital has received 300-400 injuries. 2 fire fighter lost contact, 6 injured. 38 fire engines on scene. pic.twitter.com/ZN11gpdra3