Public anger grows as China confirms hundreds of tonnes of cyanide were held at blast-hit port of Tianjin
Families of firefighters clash with police as officials acknowledge hundreds of tonnes of chemicals were stored at one of the nation’s busiest ports
Chinese officials confirmed on Sunday that hundreds of tonnes of highly poisonous cyanide were being stored at a warehouse in the port city of Tianjin when it was hit by explosions last week, as authorities vowed to investigate whether any officials were guilty of dereliction of duty.
The developments came as the death toll from the disaster, which has crippled one of the world’s busiest ports, rose to 112 dead and 95 still missing – 85 of them firefighters who responded to the initial blaze.
Fears of toxic contamination have grown and anger at a lack of transparency by the authorities has intensified, prompting protests by families of the missing firemen.
Shi Luze, chief of staff of the Beijing military region, said cyanide had been identified at two locations in the blast zone.
READ MORE: 'There'll be no cover-up over Tianjin blasts', says Communist Party mouthpiece, as death toll rises to 114
“The volume was several hundred tonnes, according to preliminary estimates,” he said.
