Tianjin blasts: Death toll mounts to 123

BEIJING: The death toll from a warehouse blast in north China's major port city of Tianjin has risen to 123 while 50 people were stil listed in the country's worst industrial tragedy, authorities said today.

The dead included 70 firefighters and seven policemen.

All the victims have been identified, state-run Xinhua news agency reported citing officials.

Fifty people remain missing, including 34 firefighters and four policemen, nearly two weeks after powerful explosions ripped through the warehouses storing dangerous chemicals in Tianjin on the night of August 12.

The explosions unleashed fireballs strong enough to light up the night sky and rain down debris in what has been dubbed as the country's worst industrial tragedy till date.

A total of 624 people are still hospitalised, including 44 critically or seriously injured, while 169 have been discharged.

China's cabinet has promised a rigorous and thorough probe into the incident, that has sparked concerns of contamination of air and water due to toxic materials besides raising questions over regulation and storage of such items.