China explosions: Chemical specialists sent to Tianjin

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.
Firefighters were already at the scene when the explosions took place.
They had been called to reports of a container fire, state media said. At least 12 firefighters are among the dead.
The warehouse that exploded is owned by a company called Ruihai Logistics which handles toxic chemicals including sodium cyanide and toluene diisocyanate, according to reports.
What we know about explosions
Tianjin in profile
'Seismic scale' of blasts

New cars in this parking lot were reduced to charred shells

Buildings and containers were destroyed

About 1,000 firefighters were at the site on Thursday

At least 700 people have been injured in the explosions

The two successive explosions, at 23:30 local time on Wednesday (15:30 GMT), caused a fireball visible from space and a blast wind that broke windows several kilometres away.
A large area of the port was devastated. Shipping containers were left buckled, bent and toppled on to each other like toy bricks.
Rows and rows of new cars were reduced to blackened husks.

The head of Tianjin's environmental protection bureau, Wen Wurui, said pollution levels were being monitored.
"It would be harmful if you breathe in [this toxic air] for a long time," he said.
"But at present, it has not exceeded [the standard] too much based on our monitoring."
Blast 'like end of the world'
Pictures reveal devastation
Netizens' critical of blast coverage silenced

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Media caption The BBC's John Sudworth reports from inside the blast zone

A man who was working as a security guard in a nearby factory told the BBC that he saw there was a fire, but did not expect explosions.
"Suddenly I heard a bang," he said. "I lay down immediately, but I still got injured.
"My security booth was destroyed completely."
Another injured man said after the explosion his mind went blank.
"My first reaction was to run," he said. "I heard another burst. I was running away. I got blood all over my body."

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Media caption Pictures and video shared on social media showed the moment of the blast

The blast ripped apart a nearby dormitory for migrant workers, who were forced to flee the collapsing building.
"I rolled off the bed after the first shockwave hit, so I scrambled to run for my life," said resident Dan Agio.
"When I reached downstairs, the second blast happened. It's as if the sky collapsed. In a blink of an eye, the roof fell."

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Media caption Explosions survivor "The second blast blew me away"

The editor of the BBC's Chinese Service, Raymond Li, points out that almost 24 hours after the explosions, the cause still is not known.
Just a few days ago, city officials visited the industrial site to discuss safety standards, he says.

Military personnel have been sent to help with the clear-up

Firefighters are among the dead and injured

The fire service was already at the scene at the time of the explosions, reports say

A primary school is being used as a temporary shelter for local residents