Tianjin blasts toll rises to 163

Beijing, Sep 9: The death toll in the warehouse explosions in China's Tianjin city rose to 163 on Wednesday with 10 people still remaining missing, according to rescue authorities.

The dead include 96 firefighters, 11 policemen and 56 civilians. The ten missing include eight fire fighters and two civilians, Xinhua news agency reported.

Hundreds more still remain in hospital.

Two blasts ripped through a warehouse around 11.30 p.m. (local time) on August 12 in Tianjin Port, where large amounts of toxic chemicals were stored, including around 700 tonnes of sodium cyanide.

IANS