Tianjin explosion

[Thin White Duke 4,072]

A massive explosion occured in the harbor of Tianjin, China earlier today. 50 dead, 700 injured. The cause for the explosion is unknown, but a chemical team has been sent to investigate.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-33844086

[JP Schriefer 5,590]

I saw it on the news earlier, I think I'm not prepared for that, if it happens here I would think we are being attacked

[GC_Vos 714]

Wow, there is actually a video from someone who presumably died / got heavily injured...

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=dc0_1439444275

[JP Schriefer 5,590]

Oh my God, I hope this person is alive. If it lay on the ground there's a chance to survive. That's shocking, I won't watch videos about that anymore.

[BLANKBLANK 4,414]

That's one hell of an explosion.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Chemical storage is always tricky and it is common in port cities.  Sometimes simply having the wrong ones stored near each other is enough for partial pressures to get things going.  Chemical engineers should always oversee placement of items in such storage facilities and even they are not infallible.

In this case, I suspect someone had a cigarette going when they shouldn't have.

[Hellken 1,658]

 

The BBC has more pictures.

 

What an explosion! My condolences to all those who were killed, maimed and injured.