China to inspect dangerous chemicals after Tianjin blasts

China proposes to launch a nationwide examination of dangerous chemicals and explosives in the wake of the deadly explosions in Tianjin city, a media report said on Friday.

The State Council issued an emergency notice on Friday, in which it asked governments at all levels to reinforce the safety management of dangerous chemicals and explosives, strictly control the access threshold for industrial projects on these materials and firmly implement special regulatory measures for highly toxic chemicals such as cyanide as well as inflammable materials, Xinhua news agency reported.

The cabinet also urged governments at all levels to take lessons from the two massive blasts, and to crack down unwaveringly on illegal activities to ensure safety.

The warehouse blasts, which occurred late Wednesday night, killed at least 56 people, including 21 firefighters. A total of 721 were injured, of whom 25 were still in critical condition. The cause is being investigated.

The warehouse was owned by Tianjin Dongjiang Port Rui Hai International Logistics Co. Ltd., which was founded in 2011 and is a storage and distribution centre of containers of hazardous goods at the Tianjin port.