Storms slow recovery efforts after blast in China

TIANJIN, China – Thunderstorms Tuesday complicated recovery efforts from last week’s massive explosions at a warehouse in China’s Tianjin port that killed at least 114 people, left 57 missing and exposed dangerous chemicals – including some that could become flammable on contact with water.

Experts have expressed concern that rain could spread some of the vast quantities of hazardous material at the site or set off chemical reactions, sparking further explosions. Rain began falling mid-morning, but there was no immediate word of new blasts.

Underscoring the weakness of China’s system of industrial safety, the head of the national organization responsible for those efforts has been placed under investigation for suspected “severe violation of discipline and law” – standard shorthand for corruption – the ruling Communist Party’s anti-graft watchdog said Tuesday.

The storms began shortly after residents, firefighters, police, medical staff and officials held a moment of silence marking the sixth day since the disaster, the first observance in the 49-day traditional Chinese mourning cycle. Sirens wailed and car and boat horns blared while assembled groups bowed in respect for the dead.

As of Tuesday, 50 firefighters were confirmed killed and 52 others were among the missing, making the disaster the deadliest ever for Chinese first-responders. About 1,000 firefighters responded to the disaster.