



An enormous explosion has reportedly hit China’s fourth largest city, Tianjin, a major port in the northeast part of the country.

Videos of the incident have been circulating online Wednesday:

@thelastnext the explosion in Tianjin Binhai New Area pic.twitter.com/MQcpfuTN2M — William Locke (@thelastnext) August 12, 2015

People’s Daily China reported that the explosion occurred Wednesday night and could be felt 10 kilometers away:

#Breaking: Explosion happened in E China's Tianjin City Wed. Huge mushroom cloud seen. Quake felt 10 km away. pic.twitter.com/PkgzFb8kyv — People's Daily,China (@PDChina) August 12, 2015

The cause and casualties of the blast are still unknown at this time.

A reporter named William Locke has been tweeting images from the area taken from the social network Weibo:

Tianjin Binhai New Area exploded. suspected to be a gas station pic.twitter.com/ko7cEsCGmO — William Locke (@thelastnext) August 12, 2015

apartments close to the explosion spot in Tianjin Binhai New Area pic.twitter.com/ZHpeduPeax — William Locke (@thelastnext) August 12, 2015

@thelastnext People close to the spot said the explosion possibly caused from oil tanks of a logistics company. NOT confirmed yet. — William Locke (@thelastnext) August 12, 2015

CCTV America reporter Matt Simon is also providing live updates:

We are hearing this #explosion happened at a dock in #Tianjin. Reports of chemical leak happening now. @cctvnews reporter en route. — Matt Simon (@MSimonTV) August 12, 2015

Chinese photo agency releases 11 pics of #Tianjin residents evacuated on street. Strange- no agency pics of fireball. pic.twitter.com/IUP49ZKxQf — Matt Simon (@MSimonTV) August 12, 2015

No word on number of casualties in #Tianjin. However, we have seen video showing at least 2 bodies on street with catastrophic injuries. — Matt Simon (@MSimonTV) August 12, 2015

From local Chinese media: in one hospital in #Tianjin… doctors are treating more than 400 injuries, most burn related. — Matt Simon (@MSimonTV) August 12, 2015

Latest #Tianjin explanation from local media: flammable cargo exploded at port, setting off chain reactions. Now fears of chemical leak — Matt Simon (@MSimonTV) August 12, 2015

UPDATE — 2:10 p.m. ET: China Xinhua News reports hundreds of victims have been hospitalized following Tianjin explosion:

Update:#Tianjin explosion reportedly caused by inflammables & explosives at container terminal, hundreds hospitalized pic.twitter.com/c2BUYhkrE1 — China Xinhua News (@XHNews) August 12, 2015

Update: Hospital says it has received over 50 wounded from #Tianjin blast, new ones keep coming pic.twitter.com/OeBYcGiVMd — China Xinhua News (@XHNews) August 12, 2015

[Photo via screengrab]

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