CHINA-BLAST/TIANJIN NEWSER Local authorities hold a news conference after Tianjin blasts that kill dozens

Record ID: 144139

  • Title: CHINA-BLAST/TIANJIN NEWSER Local authorities hold a news conference after Tianjin blasts that kill dozens
  • Date: 13th August 2015
  • Summary: TIANJIN, CHINA (AUGUST 13, 2015) (REUTERS) OFFICIALS TAKING SEATS IN NEWS CONFERENCE ROOM OFFICIALS SEATED MEDIA (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) TIANJIN ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION BUREAU CHIEF, WEN WURUI, SAYING: "It would be harmful if you breathe in (this toxic air) for a long time. But at present, it has not exceeded (the standard) too much based on our monitoring." CAMERAMAN (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) HEAD OF TIANJIN'S BINHAI NEW AREA, ZHANG YONG, SAYING: "We will avoid causing more losses. (We) must take the safest and the best protection actions before we are able to clearly identify certain substances. So based on this, military forces provided assistance." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS
  • Embargoed: 28th August 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: China
  • Country: China
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA3W65OTSL24H90POB74E6IXB6J
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: PLEASE NOTE AUDIO AS INCOMING
    Officials in the northeast Chinese port city of Tianjin say air quality around the area where two massive explosions took place has not exceeded "too much" toxicity.
    Local officials held a news conference Thursday (August 13) in the aftermath of the deadly Wednesday (August 12) night explosions that happened in an industrial area where toxic chemical and gas were stored leaving at least 50 dead and more than 700 wounded.
    The dead included at least a dozen fire fighters, officials and state media said.
    More than 700 people were injured, more than 60 of them seriously, the Tianjin government said on its Weibo microblog.
    When asked whether the air would be affected by the toxic substances, Tianjin environmental protection bureau chief Wen Wurui said it wasn't yet a major concern.
    "It would be harmful if you breathe in (this toxic air) for a long time. But at present, it has not exceeded (the standard) too much based on our monitoring," said Wen.
    The head of Tianjin's Binhai New Area, Zhang Yong, said the cause of the blasts was still under investigation and that they are taking precautions while the investigation takes place.
    "We will avoid causing more losses. (We) must take the safest and the best protection actions before we are able to clearly identify certain substances. So based on this, military forces provided assistance," he said, when asked why the biochemical troops were dispatched to participate in the search and rescue efforts.
    Officials from the fire department, health department, environmental protection department attended the news conference.
    Vast areas of the port - the 10th largest in the world - were devastated, crumpled shipping containers were thrown around like match sticks, hundreds of new cars were torched and port buildings left as burnt-out shells.
    President Xi Jinping demanded that authorities "make full effort to rescue and treat the injured and ensure the safety of people and their property".
    He said in a statement carried by official media that those responsible should be "severely handled".
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