YEREVAN, AUGUST 17, ARMENPRESS. Fears are growing for nearly 100 Chinese firefighters still missing after being sent to tackle the deadly explosions in Tianjin last week, amid reports that 70 times the permitted quantity of sodium cyanide had been stored at a warehouse near the blasts.

Armenpress repprts, referring to “The Guardian” that with the official death toll raised to 112 and the number of missing people at 95, rescue workers wearing gas masks and hazard suits were racing to clear the area before the weather changes because of concerns that wind could spread the toxins and rain could cause a dangerous reaction with chemicals at the site.

Chinese officials found what they believe to be 700 tonnes of sodium cyanide at two locations within the site of Wednesday’s deadly blasts, state media reported on Sunday. Some reports suggested the company that owned the warehouse where the blasts originated, Rui Hai International Logistics, may have been illegally transporting chemicals. The Chinese premier, Li Keqiang, visited the site on Sunday, according to the official People’s Daily.

There is growing anger over the explosions, with residents living in the Qihang Jiayuan apartment complex less than 800 metres from the blast zone staging a protest outside a hotel where officials were holding a press conference.

“I’m very worried that these dangerous chemicals will harm my health,” Zhang Yinbao, who works in the chemical industry and lives nearby, told AP.

Under Chinese law, warehouses storing large quantities of chemicals are not permitted to be that close to a residential area. “From a legal perspective it’s unreasonable that dangerous chemicals would be so close,” Zhang said, calling for a thorough investigation and compensation.

Local media printed photographs of protesters, some with bandages on their arms and heads, holding pictures of what appeared to be their devastated homes.

Families of the missing firefighters joined the protest and clashed with police after marching to district government offices.

Photo by AP