Deadly China Blast Incinerates Thousands of Vehicles

Wednesday night's huge double explosion at a warehouse in the port city of Tianjin, China, killed at least 50 people, including a dozen firefighters, and injured at least 700 others, according to reports.

The blasts also destroyed innumerable shipping containers and considerably more than 8,000 vehicles awaiting shipment. Among carmakers with vehicles stored nearby were Hyundai-Kia, Renault, Toyota and Volkswagen.

On Thursday safety officials were still trying to determine which toxic materials were involved in the explosions, which devastated a wide area. One report said the second blast was the equivalent of 20 tons of explosives.

Tianjin, with a population of more than 15 million, is China's fourth-largest city.