Chinese Explosion: 19-Year-Old Firefighter Found Alive

In the wake of a catastrophic explosion on a Chinese port on Wednesday, as previously reported by HNGN, a young firefighter has been recovered alive after 32 hours of being trapped under rubble. The deadly blast has killed at least 17 other firefighters, with numerous others remaining missing

firefighter, 19-year-old Zhou Ti, is currently being treated for injuries on his chest at a local hospital in Tianjin. Officials from the city government said that the young man is currently in stable condition, according to The Express Tribune.

The two explosions that rocked the Chinese port city have killed at least 50 and injured more than 700. Among the casualties, 17 of them were confirmed to be firefighters who first responded to the scene. A number of firefighters are also reported to be missing, though the actual number has not been clarified.

The deadly blasts originated from shipping containers owned by Ruihai International Logistics, which is known for handling chemicals from flammable gases and liquids to compressed natural gases and ethyl acetate. Toxic materials like sodium cyanide and toluene diisocyanate are handled by the company, reports MSN News.

Zhou Tian, head of the Tianjin firefighting bureau, describes what happened as the firefighters responded to the scene.

"(The firefighters) investigating and testing the area and their reinforcement were arriving when the first blast hit all of a sudden," he said, adding "The firefighters were at the center of the explosion and were unprepared."

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Chinese, Firefighter, Explosion