CHINA-BLAST/PROTEST Family members of fire fighters missing in Tianjin blast attempt to protest outside of city hall

Record ID: 143749

  • Title: CHINA-BLAST/PROTEST Family members of fire fighters missing in Tianjin blast attempt to protest outside of city hall
  • Date: 16th August 2015
  • Summary: TIANJIN, CHINA (AUGUST 16, 2015) (REUTERS) FAMILIES OF MISSING FIRE FIGHTERS UNFURLING BANNER LINE OF POLICEMEN STANDING FAMILIES STANDING BEHIND BANNER/OFFICIAL YELLING AT FAMILIES POLICE LOCKING ARMS (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) MAN WHOSE ELDER BROTHER WAS IN THE FIRST SQUAD OF FIRE FIGHTERS,' ZENG GUOQING, SAYING: "Information of fifth squad of fire fighters has been released
  • Embargoed: 31st August 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: China
  • Country: China
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA91J66F7AAP2OFRQ7WDQQSKA3
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Around 40 family members of fire fighters still missing after two blasts ripped through China's eastern port city of Tianjin attempted to protest outside the local city hall on Sunday (August 16).
    Holding banners that said "return me my son," the family members, mostly from rural backgrounds, were blocked from entering the courtyard to the city hall by rows of police officers.
    The group was trying to ask local government officials where they could find details on their missing relatives.
    The family members said information on staff fire fighters has made been available to the public, but the government has failed to provide details on the contract fire fighters who were sent into extinguish the fire before the two massive blasts occurred.
    "Information of fifth squad of fire fighters has been released. They (the government) hasn't paid any attention to the first squad. There's still no information. If we didn't request for help, they would ignore it. Now we didn't have any information at all. Only one or two out of one hundred people have been confirmed dead. Then no information on the rest," said Zeng Guoqing, whose elder brother is among the missing.
    One man, surnamed Lei, said that he tried to look "everywhere" for information on his missing son, but has failed to find any answers.
    "Several days have passed. I don't even know if my son is still alive or dead. The government won't give us any information at all. The only information of fire fighters (who aren't contract fire fighters) is on television but nothing about our farmers' sons, who came here for work. Not even one piece of information is released on television. We just want to ask them what on earth happened to them," he said.
    After Wednesday's (August 12) blasts, fire crews were criticised for using water to douse flames which may have contributed to the blasts given the volatile nature of the chemicals involved.
    Media have said such fire fighters in China, often only on two-year contracts, lack training as new recruits.
    The death toll from the massive explosions has risen to 112 with 95 people missing, the official Xinhua news agency said on Sunday, suggesting the toll could rise significantly.
    President Xi Jinping on Saturday (August 15) urged authorities to improve safety and learn lessons paid for with blood.
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