China blasts: fireball from Tianjin explosions injures hundreds and kills at least 44 – latest updates

We are expecting a press conference from authorities in Tianjin in around half an hour, at which we would hope to hear further information on the rescue efforts and those affected.

In the meantime, here is what we know about the blasts that rocked the port city on Wednesday night, and their aftermath:

At least 44 people have been killed, including 12 firefighters. Some 520 people are injured, including 66 in critical condition in hospital.
Authorities earlier said they had lost contact with a further 36 firefighters tackling the huge blazes. It is not clear if this includes the 12 who are confirmed to have died. Over 1,000 firefighters and 143 fire trucks were dispatched to the scene.
Efforts to extinguish the fires have been suspended due to safety fears over possibly dangerous and/or toxic materials in the warehouses. Authorities have not said when they will resume.
Guardian reporter Fergus Ryan, who is in Tianjin, says smoke continues to billow across the city; he also reported a further small explosion and fires still ablaze, with damage to buildings and cars as far as 3km from the scene.

The blasts occurred shortly before midnight local time (4pm GMT, 2am AEST), when a shipment of so-far unidentified “dangerous goods” in a warehouse went up in flames, causing explosions so strong that they shook homes on the other side of the city and sent flaming debris arching over nearby high-rise buildings.
President Xi Jinping and premier Li Keqiang “have urged all-out efforts to save the injured and minimise casualties in the Tianjin blast”, state media says. A specialist army team is on its way from Beijing.
State media also reports that the owners of the factory at the centre of the blasts – named as Tianjin Dongjiang Port Rui Hai International Logistics Co. Ltd – have been detained.
Tianjin, the port gateway to Beijing, is a major base for petrochemicals, refining and other industries.
Factories in the port city have been told not to open until they have been checked for safety.
Greenpeace has warned that chemicals involved in the blaze could pose an ongoing threat to Tianjin residents.
I am now handing over the live blog to my colleague Matthew Weaver, who will continue to bring you the latest updates, including that press conference.

Thanks for reading and for your comments.