Explosion kills dozens in China

(Vatican Radio) In China, over 40 people are dead and more than 400 injured after explosions at a facility storing dangerous chemicals. China's leaders have called for all-out efforts to help the injured. 

Two explosions ripped through an industrial zone in the city of Tianjin, destroying buildings and blasting debris across the area. 

Alastair Wanklyn reports. Listen

Chinese state television showed pictures of a raging fire, and Internet users posted images of shattered windows and wrecked homes.

Hospitals in Tianjin were said to be overflowing with casualties.  

The incident happened at a cargo facility for dangerous chemicals. On Wendesday evening, fire fighters were tackling a blaze there, when towards midnight the explosions occurred. 

The blasts were so strong they were felt at earthquake monitoring centres. The blasts appeared to rupture gas supplies and electricity was out in parts of the city, Chinese state media said.

Some residents were said to have spent the night in the streets, fearing that their homes were now unsafe.

As dawn broke on Thursday, many companies were looking for information on the extent of the damage. Tianjin is the sea port through which most goods from Beijing reach foreign markets. It is also home a number of large companies.

For Vatican Radio, Alastair Wanklyn reporting.