Tianjin Blast Death Toll Rises to 135

Tianjin (PNA/Xinhua) — The death toll from the deadly blasts in the northern port city of Tianjin has reached 135.

Rescue authorities on Tuesday said the update in the tragedy’s casualty count was made after six from the 44 people who have been reported missing were confirmed dead.

All of the fatalities from the blast have been identified. These include 81 firefighters, seven policemen and 47 other people.

Meanwhile, 38 other people remain missing. These include 23 firefighters, four policemen and 11 others.

At present,582 people remain hospitalized. Out of the said victims, 36 are in serious condition. A total of 216 injured people have been discharged from hospital.

On Aug.12, two blasts ripped through a warehouse in Tianjin Port where hundreds of tonnes of toxic chemicals were stored, including around 700 tonnes of sodium cyanide before midnight.

The explosions also seriously damaged two neighboring residential compounds and more than 3,000 new cars in nearby parking area.

As of the moment, personnel continue to clean up the debris and chemicals at the blast site. Workers have partially restored power supply in some damaged buildings.

Local authorities said a total of 223 companies have resumed operations after a suspension due to the blast while 140 more firms are expected to restart production soon as the Tianjin Port is now back to its normal operations.

Thousands of people affected by the blast have turned to their relatives for shelter or returned to their hometowns. Only 95 people remain in a school which was used as a temporary sheltering point.

Police have detained executives of the warehouse’s owner, Tianjin Rui Hai International Logistics Co. Ltd, including company head Yu Xuewei, a former executive at a state-run chemical company, and deputy head Dong Shexuan, son of a former police chief for Tianjin Port.

The State Council, China’s cabinet has earlier promised a thorough probe into the deadly blasts. (PNA/Xinhua) RMA/BNB/SSC