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“Authorities pulled more bodies from a massive blast site in the Chinese port of Tianjin, pushing the death toll to 112 on Sunday as teams scrambled to clear dangerous chemical contamination. Hundreds of people were injured and 85 firefighters and 10 others are missing since a fire and rapid succession of blasts late Wednesday hit a warehouse for hazardous chemicals in a mostly industrial area of Tianjin, 120 kilometers (75 miles) east of Beijing. New small explosions continued to rock the locked-down disaster zone over the weekend. Angry relatives of the missing firefighters stormed a government news conference Saturday to demand any information on their loved ones. The death toll includes at least 21 firefighters – making the disaster the deadliest for Chinese firefighters in more than six decades. Two state-run Chinese news outlets, The Paper and the Southern Metropolis, reported that the warehouse was storing 700 tons of sodium cyanide – 70 times more than it should have been holding at one time, and that authorities were rushing to clean it up. Sodium cyanide is a toxic chemical that can form a flammable gas upon contact with water.

Authorities also detected the highly toxic hydrogen cyanide in the air slightly above safety levels at two locations, The Paper cited Tianjin environmental official Wen Wurui as saying. But the contamination was no longer detected later Saturday, the report said. The disaster has raised questions about whether dangerous chemicals were being stored too close to residential compounds, and if poor decisions unnecessarily sent firefighters into the harm's way. The massive explosions Wednesday happened about 40 minutes after reports of a fire at the warehouse and after an initial wave of firefighters arrived and, reportedly, doused some of the area with water. Rescuers pulled out a survivor from a shipping container on Saturday, state media reported. Fooage showed the 56-year-old man being carried out on a sketcher by a group of soldiers wearing gas masks. He remained in critical condition Sunday, local media reported. Authorities were keeping residents, journalists and other people not involved in the disaster response outside a 3-kilometer (1.8-mile) radius around the site of the explosions in what media reports said was an operation to clean up the sodium cyanide”. – Peng Peng, Didi Tang, Ian Mader and Christopher Bodeen via The Associated Press


An aerial picture shows damaged vehicles near the site of Wednesday night's explosions at Binhai new district in Tianjin, China, August 15, 2015. (Photo by Reuters/Stringer)

An aerial picture shows damaged vehicles near the site of Wednesday night's explosions at Binhai new district in Tianjin, China, August 15, 2015. (Photo by Reuters/Stringer)




An aerial picture shows smoke rising from the debris among shipping containers at the site of Wednesday night's explosions at Binhai new district in Tianjin, China, August 15, 2015. (Photo by Reuters/Stringer)

An aerial picture shows smoke rising from the debris among shipping containers at the site of Wednesday night's explosions at Binhai new district in Tianjin, China, August 15, 2015. (Photo by Reuters/Stringer)




An aerial picture shows damaged cars at the site of Wednesday night's explosions at Binhai new district in Tianjin, China, August 15, 2015. (Photo by Reuters/Stringer)

An aerial picture shows damaged cars at the site of Wednesday night's explosions at Binhai new district in Tianjin, China, August 15, 2015. (Photo by Reuters/Stringer)




An aerial picture shows smoke rising from the debris among shipping containers at the site of Wednesday night's explosions at Binhai new district in Tianjin, China, August 15, 2015. (Photo by Reuters/Stringer)

An aerial picture shows smoke rising from the debris among shipping containers at the site of Wednesday night's explosions at Binhai new district in Tianjin, China, August 15, 2015. (Photo by Reuters/Stringer)




A military medical vehicle travels on a road near damaged vehicles at the site of Wednesday night's explosions at Binhai new district in Tianjin, China, August 15, 2015. (Photo by Jason Lee/Reuters)

A military medical vehicle travels on a road near damaged vehicles at the site of Wednesday night's explosions at Binhai new district in Tianjin, China, August 15, 2015. (Photo by Jason Lee/Reuters)




Paramilitary policemen in gas masks examine unknown chemicals at a square near the site of Wednesday night's explosions at Binhai new district in Tianjin, China, August 15, 2015. (Photo by Jason Lee/Reuters)

Paramilitary policemen in gas masks examine unknown chemicals at a square near the site of Wednesday night's explosions at Binhai new district in Tianjin, China, August 15, 2015. (Photo by Jason Lee/Reuters)




Paramilitary policemen and other rescuers in gas masks examine unknown chemicals on a square near the site of Wednesday night's explosions at Binhai new district in Tianjin, China, August 15, 2015. (Photo by Jason Lee/Reuters)

Paramilitary policemen and other rescuers in gas masks examine unknown chemicals on a square near the site of Wednesday night's explosions at Binhai new district in Tianjin, China, August 15, 2015. (Photo by Jason Lee/Reuters)




Paramilitary policemen in gas masks examine unknown chemicals on a square near the site of Wednesday night's explosions at Binhai new district in Tianjin, China, August 15, 2015. (Photo by Jason Lee/Reuters)

Paramilitary policemen in gas masks examine unknown chemicals on a square near the site of Wednesday night's explosions at Binhai new district in Tianjin, China, August 15, 2015. (Photo by Jason Lee/Reuters)




A man works on the roof of a building near the site of Wednesday night's explosions at Binhai new district on a hazy day in Tianjin, China, August 15, 2015. (Photo by Jason Lee/Reuters)

A man works on the roof of a building near the site of Wednesday night's explosions at Binhai new district on a hazy day in Tianjin, China, August 15, 2015. (Photo by Jason Lee/Reuters)




Paramilitary policemen in gas masks work among damaged vehicles near the site of Wednesday night's explosions at Binhai new district on a hazy day in Tianjin, China, August 15, 2015. (Photo by Jason Lee/Reuters)

Paramilitary policemen in gas masks work among damaged vehicles near the site of Wednesday night's explosions at Binhai new district on a hazy day in Tianjin, China, August 15, 2015. (Photo by Jason Lee/Reuters)




The mother (2nd R) of missing firefighter Xue Ning is helped by other family members as she cries outside the venue of a news conference after trying to demand for more information from government officials, following the explosions on Wednesday night at Binhai new district in Tianjin, China, August 15, 2015. (Photo by Jason Lee/Reuters)

The mother (2nd R) of missing firefighter Xue Ning is helped by other family members as she cries outside the venue of a news conference after trying to demand for more information from government officials, following the explosions on Wednesday night at Binhai new district in Tianjin, China, August 15, 2015. (Photo by Jason Lee/Reuters)




Relatives of missing firefighters are guided by policemen outside the venue of a news conference as they try to demand for more information from government officials, following explosions on Wednesday night at Binhai new district in Tianjin, China, August 15, 2015. (Photo by Jason Lee/Reuters)

Relatives of missing firefighters are guided by policemen outside the venue of a news conference as they try to demand for more information from government officials, following explosions on Wednesday night at Binhai new district in Tianjin, China, August 15, 2015. (Photo by Jason Lee/Reuters)




The mother (R) of missing firefighter Dong Zepeng wipes her face next to another family member as they cry outside the venue of a news conference after trying to demand for more information from government officials, following explosions on Wednesday night at Binhai new district in Tianjin, China, August 15, 2015. (Photo by Jason Lee/Reuters)

The mother (R) of missing firefighter Dong Zepeng wipes her face next to another family member as they cry outside the venue of a news conference after trying to demand for more information from government officials, following explosions on Wednesday night at Binhai new district in Tianjin, China, August 15, 2015. (Photo by Jason Lee/Reuters)




Wang Baoxia talks to a journalist about her missing brother Wang Quan who was at the scene of an explosion in northeastern China's Tianjin municipality, Saturday, August 15, 2015. Angry family members of firefighters missing in the explosions that rocked the Chinese port city of Tianjin stormed a government news conference on Saturday, demanding information on their loved ones. (Photo by Ng Han Guan/AP Photo)

Wang Baoxia talks to a journalist about her missing brother Wang Quan who was at the scene of an explosion in northeastern China's Tianjin municipality, Saturday, August 15, 2015. Angry family members of firefighters missing in the explosions that rocked the Chinese port city of Tianjin stormed a government news conference on Saturday, demanding information on their loved ones. (Photo by Ng Han Guan/AP Photo)




A firefighter walks among damaged vehicles as smoke rises amidst shipping containers at the site of Wednesday night's explosions, at Binhai new district in Tianjin, China, August 14, 2015. (Photo by Reuters/Stringer)

A firefighter walks among damaged vehicles as smoke rises amidst shipping containers at the site of Wednesday night's explosions, at Binhai new district in Tianjin, China, August 14, 2015. (Photo by Reuters/Stringer)




Smoke rises as damaged vehicles are seen burning near the site of Wednesday night's explosions, at Binhai new district in Tianjin, China, August 15, 2015. (Photo by Reuters/Stringer)

Smoke rises as damaged vehicles are seen burning near the site of Wednesday night's explosions, at Binhai new district in Tianjin, China, August 15, 2015. (Photo by Reuters/Stringer)




Damaged cars and a broken wall are pictured inside the parking lot of a building where residents were evacuated, near the site of Wednesday's explosions, at Binhai new district in Tianjin, China, August 13, 2015. (Photo by Reuters/Stringer)

Damaged cars and a broken wall are pictured inside the parking lot of a building where residents were evacuated, near the site of Wednesday's explosions, at Binhai new district in Tianjin, China, August 13, 2015. (Photo by Reuters/Stringer)




Broken windows are seen on a building where residents were evacuated, near the site of Wednesday night's explosions, at Binhai new district in Tianjin, China, August 13, 2015. (Photo by Reuters/Stringer)

Broken windows are seen on a building where residents were evacuated, near the site of Wednesday night's explosions, at Binhai new district in Tianjin, China, August 13, 2015. (Photo by Reuters/Stringer)




Rescuers walk next to damaged vehicles at the site of Wednesday night's explosions in Binhai new district of Tianjin, China, August 15, 2015. (Photo by Reuters/Stringer)

Rescuers walk next to damaged vehicles at the site of Wednesday night's explosions in Binhai new district of Tianjin, China, August 15, 2015. (Photo by Reuters/Stringer)




Firefighters wearing gas masks try to put out a fire at the site of Wednesday night's explosions in Binhai new district of Tianjin, China, August 15, 2015. (Photo by Reuters/China Daily)

Firefighters wearing gas masks try to put out a fire at the site of Wednesday night's explosions in Binhai new district of Tianjin, China, August 15, 2015. (Photo by Reuters/China Daily)




Firefighters walk past a damaged truck at the site of Wednesday night's explosions in Binhai new district of Tianjin, China, August 15, 2015. (Photo by Reuters/China Daily)

Firefighters walk past a damaged truck at the site of Wednesday night's explosions in Binhai new district of Tianjin, China, August 15, 2015. (Photo by Reuters/China Daily)




A firefighter films the aftermath next to a damaged firefighting vehicle at the site of Wednesday night's explosions in Binhai new district of Tianjin, China, August 15, 2015. (Photo by Reuters/China Daily)

A firefighter films the aftermath next to a damaged firefighting vehicle at the site of Wednesday night's explosions in Binhai new district of Tianjin, China, August 15, 2015. (Photo by Reuters/China Daily)




A photographer wearing a gas mask walks out of a damaged building at the site of Wednesday night's explosions in Binhai new district of Tianjin, China, August 15, 2015. (Photo by Reuters/China Daily)

A photographer wearing a gas mask walks out of a damaged building at the site of Wednesday night's explosions in Binhai new district of Tianjin, China, August 15, 2015. (Photo by Reuters/China Daily)




Firefighters wearing gas masks walk next to a damaged building among debris at the site of Wednesday night's explosions in Binhai new district of Tianjin, China, August 15, 2015. (Photo by Reuters/China Daily)

Firefighters wearing gas masks walk next to a damaged building among debris at the site of Wednesday night's explosions in Binhai new district of Tianjin, China, August 15, 2015. (Photo by Reuters/China Daily)




A damaged fire truck is pictured at the site of Wednesday night's explosions in Binhai new district of Tianjin, China, August 15, 2015. (Photo by Reuters/China Daily)

A damaged fire truck is pictured at the site of Wednesday night's explosions in Binhai new district of Tianjin, China, August 15, 2015. (Photo by Reuters/China Daily)




A damaged police car is pictured at the site of Wednesday night's explosions in Binhai new district of Tianjin, China, August 15, 2015. (Photo by Reuters/China Daily)

A damaged police car is pictured at the site of Wednesday night's explosions in Binhai new district of Tianjin, China, August 15, 2015. (Photo by Reuters/China Daily)




Smoke rises from debris near a crater that was at the center of a series of explosions in northeastern China's Tianjin municipality Saturday, August 15, 2015, as seen from an aerial view. New explosions and fires rocked the Chinese port city of Tianjin on Saturday, as one survivor was pulled out and authorities ordered evacuations to clean up chemical contamination more than two days after a fire and a series of blasts set off the disaster. (Photo by Chinatopix Via AP Photo)

Smoke rises from debris near a crater that was at the center of a series of explosions in northeastern China's Tianjin municipality Saturday, August 15, 2015, as seen from an aerial view. New explosions and fires rocked the Chinese port city of Tianjin on Saturday, as one survivor was pulled out and authorities ordered evacuations to clean up chemical contamination more than two days after a fire and a series of blasts set off the disaster. (Photo by Chinatopix Via AP Photo)




Men gather on an elevated highway near the smoking remains of an explosion in northeastern China's Tianjin municipality Saturday, August 15, 2015. (Photo by Chinatopix Via AP Photo)

Men gather on an elevated highway near the smoking remains of an explosion in northeastern China's Tianjin municipality Saturday, August 15, 2015. (Photo by Chinatopix Via AP Photo)




A Chinese firefighter walks near fire trucks near the site of an explosion in northeastern China's Tianjin municipality Saturday, August 15, 2015. (Photo by Ng Han Guan/AP Photo)

A Chinese firefighter walks near fire trucks near the site of an explosion in northeastern China's Tianjin municipality Saturday, August 15, 2015. (Photo by Ng Han Guan/AP Photo)




Chinese emergency crew survey the site of an explosion in northeastern China's Tianjin municipality Saturday, August 15, 2015. (Photo by Ng Han Guan/AP Photo)

Chinese emergency crew survey the site of an explosion in northeastern China's Tianjin municipality Saturday, August 15, 2015. (Photo by Ng Han Guan/AP Photo)




A Chinese firefighter adjusts his mask as he waits to be activated near the site of an explosion in northeastern China's Tianjin municipality Saturday, August 15, 2015. (Photo by Ng Han Guan/AP Photo)

A Chinese firefighter adjusts his mask as he waits to be activated near the site of an explosion in northeastern China's Tianjin municipality Saturday, August 15, 2015. (Photo by Ng Han Guan/AP Photo)




Chinese firefighters rest as they wait to be deployed near the site of an explosion in northeastern China's Tianjin municipality Saturday, August 15, 2015. (Photo by Ng Han Guan/AP Photo)

Chinese firefighters rest as they wait to be deployed near the site of an explosion in northeastern China's Tianjin municipality Saturday, August 15, 2015. (Photo by Ng Han Guan/AP Photo)




Chinese firefighter eat lunch as they wait to be activated near the site of an explosion in northeastern China's Tianjin municipality Saturday, August 15, 2015. (Photo by Ng Han Guan/AP Photo)

Chinese firefighter eat lunch as they wait to be activated near the site of an explosion in northeastern China's Tianjin municipality Saturday, August 15, 2015. (Photo by Ng Han Guan/AP Photo)




Smoke rises from debris near a crater that was at the center of a series of explosions in northeastern China's Tianjin municipality Saturday, August 15, 2015, as seen from an aerial view. (Photo by Chinatopix Via AP Photo)

Smoke rises from debris near a crater that was at the center of a series of explosions in northeastern China's Tianjin municipality Saturday, August 15, 2015, as seen from an aerial view. (Photo by Chinatopix Via AP Photo)




Chinese firefighter collect lunch as they wait near the site of an explosion in northeastern China's Tianjin municipality Saturday, August 15, 2015. (Photo by Ng Han Guan/AP Photo)

Chinese firefighter collect lunch as they wait near the site of an explosion in northeastern China's Tianjin municipality Saturday, August 15, 2015. (Photo by Ng Han Guan/AP Photo)




A Chinese traffic police man wears a mask at a security checkpoint near the site of an explosion in northeastern China's Tianjin municipality Saturday, August 15, 2015. (Photo by Ng Han Guan/AP Photo)

A Chinese traffic police man wears a mask at a security checkpoint near the site of an explosion in northeastern China's Tianjin municipality Saturday, August 15, 2015. (Photo by Ng Han Guan/AP Photo)




Chinese traffic police wear masks as they man a security checkpoint near the site of an explosion in northeastern China's Tianjin municipality Saturday, August 15, 2015. (Photo by Ng Han Guan/AP Photo)

Chinese traffic police wear masks as they man a security checkpoint near the site of an explosion in northeastern China's Tianjin municipality Saturday, August 15, 2015. (Photo by Ng Han Guan/AP Photo)
16 Aug 2015 12:29:00