Explosion in China's Tianjin city claims 17 lives

Beijing, Aug 13  At least 17 people have been killed and 400 injured in a blast at a warehouse in China's Tianjin city late Wednesday, media reported on Thursday.

The blast ripped through the Ruihai warehouse, which stores dangerous goods, at 11.20 p.m. Wednesday, following a fire report half an hour earlier, Xinhua news agency reported. 

Two firefighters were "out of contact" and four injured during the rescue, according to the Tianjin firebrigade. 

Rescue operations were on to bring out those trapped inside the blast site.

Lu Yun, head of the Taida Hospital, which has admitted around 150 injured people, told Xinhua that the injuries were mostly from broken glass or stones. 

Locals said flame lit up the sky and a blast with a big noise blew up dust dozens of metres high. The explosion also shattered glass windows. The shockwaves were felt kilometers away. 

As of 3.00 a.m. Thursday, minor fires and blasts could still be seen from a far distance.