BEIJING
The death toll from a massive explosion that ripped through a warehouse in a port city in northern China has risen to 50, state media reported Thursday.
The blast that tore through the Binhai New Area of Tianjin city around 11:30 p.m. (1630GMT) Wednesday triggered a second explosion that sent fireballs into the sky, doors and windows flying in neighboring areas, and set cars and houses on fire.
Xinhua reported rescue headquarters as saying that 701 people have been hospitalized with injuries reportedly caused by broken pieces of glass, stone and iron.
Among the injured, 71 are in a critical condition.
Officials have said that among those killed were 12 firefighters sent to the area after they received a report at 10.50 p.m. that said the warehouse was storing "dangerous and chemical goods".
A further nine teams and 35 fire engines were sent following the explosion.
Almost 20 firefighters are reported to be missing, while 66 have been receiving treatment in coastal hospitals.
President Xi Jinping has urged all-out efforts to save the injured and minimize casualties, and rescuers continue to search for people trapped inside the site.
Xi underlined that the cause of the fire must be found.
Xinhua reported the head of a nearby hospital, Lu Yun, as saying it had treated around 150 people, most of who were injured by flying broken glass or stones.
Some of the injured remain in a serious condition, said the hospital head.
The city is a 30-minute train ride from Beijing by train, and home to 14.72 million people, according to 2013 data from China National Bureau of Statistics.
*Anadolu Agency correspondent Satuk Bugra Kutlugun contributed to this report from Ankara
