WARNING: Graphic content below.
SINGAPORE -- The port city of Tianjin continues to be rocked in the aftermath of a massive explosion that occurred in the middle of the night.
The death toll stands at 44, with an estimated 400 people injured, according to Chinese state media, and more are feeling the effects of the smoke which continues to billow from the explosion site.
Chinese reporters at The Paper complained of nausea near the scene, but the Tianjin government on its Weibo account said its air monitors showed the air quality index to be normal this morning.
The blast happened just before midnight, and its shock waves were reportedly felt within a 10 kilometer (6.2 mile) radius.
This is drone footage from the site:
Authorities have pinned the site as the Ruihai warehouse, which stores dangerous and chemical goods. The government sent 12 firefighting teams to the site when the blast happened, and later dispatched nine teams and 35 fire engines.
The Binhai New Area is a rapidly industrialized zone created by the government in the 1990s, and consists of a large seaport and high-tech zone. The Tianjin port is ranked within the top five globally in terms of throughput, and processed 500 million tonnes of cargo in 2013.
