A large explosion has taken place in Tianjin, a major city in northeastern China, with the shockwave felt several kilometers away, shattering windows and fish tanks.
Xinhua, the official news agency, has reported that several secondary explosions have been caused as a result. According to the state-run People’s Daily, the blast took place around 11:30pm local time (11:30am ET) after explosive material ignited in a container at a shipping terminal. Tianjin is a major oil refining and petrochemical hub.
Xinhua reported that more than 50 injured people have been received at a local hospital, with many more expected. A reporter from the state-run CCTV network said that fire from the explosion is spreading, with two firefighters missing and an estimated 400 people missing.
This is a developing story and will be updated as new information becomes available.