Tianjin and Shandong explosions - 150 killed, 23 missing, 20 critical (so far)

[Flobalob]

I feel sorry for all the people who live near the site...

truly a terrible thing...

also for all the firefighters who probably died...

Firefighters had already been called because of a smaller initial explosion and were right in the blast site when it happened.

[Dr Frook]

I feel sorry for all the people who live near the site...

truly a terrible thing...

also for all the firefighters who probably died...

Firefighters had already been called because of a smaller initial explosion and were right in the blast site when it happened.

yep... wiped out by the HUGE second blast.

I think they are underestimating the numbers dead by a huge amount.

[Flobalob]

EDIT 22/08/15 - Shandong:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-34029202
An explosion has been reported at a chemical plant in China's eastern province of Shandong.

Large flames could be seen from the site of the blast in Zibo County. There are no reports of casualties.

The People's Daily said a warehouse at the Runxing chemical plant exploded and firefighters went to the scene.

There is a residential area about 1km from the plant. Earlier this month blasts in the northern city of Tianjin killed at least 116 people.

The proximity of industrial and chemical plants to residential areas has become hugely controversial.

Saturday's blast took place near the city of Zibo. It is not yet clear if homes in the area have been damaged.

The explosion triggered a fire and a dozen fire engines were at the scene, Xinhua news agency reports.

The BBC's Chinese service's Howard Zhang says that the blasts at Shandong and Tianjin have taken on a political significance and threaten to overshadow China's celebrations of the 70th anniversary of its victory over Japan in World War Two.

The Beijing Times reported that the Runxing plant contained adiponitrile - a chemical which is reported to be used for the production of nylon and can be harmful to skin.

Windows shattered at the scene of the blast, state media reported, and its vibration could be felt 2km from the site.

The operators of the Tianjin site are being investigated for allowing dangerous chemicals to be stored too close to homes.

The blasts there also raised fears of contamination by toxic substances.

They also sparked a nationwide directive cracking down on the storage of chemicals.

Officially the minimum distance between businesses with dangerous chemicals and public buildings and transport networks is meant to be 1km.

But data from the Tianjin incident showed there were at least three major residential communities inside that distance from the warehouse.

That makes two. Thankfully, there are currently no reports of casualties from the second blast.

[Flobalob]

There has been a third explosion In Dongying City. This is however very recent, so I will update when more information is available.