Four New Fires at China Blast Site, Widespread Safety Hazards Found

"SHANGHAI -- Four new fires have broken out at the site where two huge blasts last week killed 116 people, Chinese state media reported Friday soon after officials said safety hazards were found at almost 70 percent of firms handling dangerous chemicals in Beijing.

The explosions in a warehouse storing dangerous chemicals devastated an industrial park in the northeastern port city of Tianjin late on Aug. 12. More than 700 people were injured and thousands were evacuated because of the risk posed by chemicals stored at the site.

The official Xinhua news agency said Friday rescue crews were rushing to the site after four new fires broke out. It said one of the "combustion points" was in a logistics site for automobiles near last week's blasts."

Brenda Goh reports for Reuters August 21, 2015.

SEE ALSO:

"Chinese Authorities Investigate Mass Fish Death Near Tianjin Explosion Site" (Guardian)

"China’s Deadly Tianjin Explosions Show the Limits of Xi Jinping’s Anti-Corruption Drive" (Quartz)

"Tianjin Explosion Erodes Faith in Leadership for Many in China" (Wall Street Journal)