Tianjin explosion video: Watch the moment huge blasts rocked Chinese port city
'I've never even thought I'd see such a thing. It was terrifying, but also beautiful'
Your support helps us to tell the story
This election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.
The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.
Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.
Various videos have emerged showing the moment various huge explosions sent up massive fireballs into the night sky of the Chinese port city of Tianjin.
Currently, at least 44 people have been killed and hundreds injured, with twelve of the dead coming from among the over 1,000 firefighters who went to the site of the blast to tackle the blaze.
The Tianjin municipal government said 520 people were being treated in hospitals and gave no figure for the missing.
Video of the blast shows the strength of the explosion and the panic felt by those who filmed the incident. The explosion originated in a warehouse for hazardous material and turned buildings nearby into mere shells and shattered the windows of apartment blocks.
"I thought it was an earthquake, so I rushed downstairs without my shoes on," said Tianjin resident Zhang Siyu. "Only once I was outside did I realise it was an explosion. There was the huge fireball in the sky with thick clouds. Everybody could see it."
The fire was brought mainly under control by the morning.
"It was like what we were told a nuclear bomb would be like," said truck driver Zhao Zhencheng.
"I've never even thought I'd see such a thing. It was terrifying, but also beautiful."
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments