Military sends chemical specialists to blast site

Smoke and fire are seen after an explosion in the Binhai New Area in North China's Tianjin municipality on Aug 13, 2015. [Photo/Xinhua]

An explosion ripped through a warehouse at the Binhai New Area in Tianjin at 11:34 pm on Wednesday. The warehouse stores dangerous chemical goods.

Residents near the site said shockwaves from the explosion broke doors and windows. The impact could be felt in areas of Hebei province, several kilometers away.

The near-earthquake magnitude of the first blast was 2.3, the equivalent of detonating three tons of TNT. The second blast happened 30 seconds later and it was even more powerful, the equivalent of 21 tons of TNT, according to the China Earthquake Administration.

Another two major blasts occurred at 9 am on Thursday. A series of small explosions came around every 10 minutes.

[Casualties]

Medical staff transport a person injured from the explosion of the Binhai New Area to a hospital affiliated with the college of armed police force in Tianjin, North China, Aug 13, 2015. [Photo/Xinhua]

As of 6:00 pm on Thursday, the death toll has risen to 44, including 12 firefighters, most of whom are post-90s. About 520 people have been admitted in hospital, among whom 66 are severely injured. At least 21 still missing.

Six firefighters killed on duty have been identified, and another 66 wounded have been hospitalized. 18 firefighters remain missing.

Doctors say most of the patients suffered burns, bruises, bone fractures and injuries related to shockwaves.