Eight missing in Tianjin blasts unlikely to be found alive

Eight people still missing after one month of warehouse explosions in China's Tianjin city are unlikely to be found alive, authorities said.

Courts in districts where the missing were last known to have lived will declare their deaths when receiving petitions from their families, Xinhua news agency reported information office of Tianjin municipal government as saying on Saturday.

Two blasts ripped through a warehouse around 11.30 p.m. on August 12, where large amounts of toxic chemicals were stored.

A total of 165 people, including 99 firefighters and 11 policemen were killed in the blasts.

Eight people including several firefighters are still missing. Hundreds of injured people remain in hospital.

The civil affairs department of Binhai New Area, where the blasts took place, has vowed to compensate and recognise firefighters who died from the explosions.