2015 Tianjin explosions
Explosions at the Binhai New Area of Tianjin, China
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Key Takeaways
- On 12 August 2015, a series of explosions at the Port of Tianjin in Tianjin, Northern China, killed 173 people, according to official reports, and injured hundreds of others.
- The first two explosions occurred 33 seconds apart.
- 256 tonnes TNT equivalent).
- The cause of the explosions was not immediately known, but an investigation concluded in February 2016 that an overheated container of dry nitrocellulose was the cause of the initial explosion.
- Of the 173 fatalities, 104 were firefighters.
On 12 August 2015, a series of explosions at the Port of Tianjin in Tianjin, Northern China, killed 173 people, according to official reports, and injured hundreds of others. The explosions occurred at a container storage station in the Binhai New Area of Tianjin, China. The first two explosions occurred 33 seconds apart. The second explosion was much larger and involved the detonation of about 800 tonnes of ammonium nitrate (approx. 256 tonnes TNT equivalent). Fires caused by the initial explosions continued to burn uncontrolled throughout the weekend, resulting in eight additional explosions on 15 August.
The cause of the explosions was not immediately known, but an investigation concluded in February 2016 that an overheated container of dry nitrocellulose was the cause of the initial explosion. The official casualty report was 173 deaths (including eight missing), and 798 non-fatal injuries. Of the 173 fatalities, 104 were firefighters.
The scale of the damage was compared by some to the September 11 attacks.
Background
Tianjin Dongjiang Port Ruihai International Logistics, or Ruihai Logistics, is a privately held logistics company established in 2011. It handled hazardous chemicals within the Port of Tianjin, such as flammable and corrosive substances, oxidizing agents, and toxic chemicals. The company, which employed 70, was designated by the Tianjin Maritime Safety Administration as an approved agent for handling these hazardous chemicals at the port, and its operating license was renewed two months prior to the explosions. Its 46,000-square-metre (500,000 sq ft) site, roughly the size of two city blocks, contained multiple warehouses for hazardous goods, a fire pump and a fire pond.
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