Rain in Tianjin poses no health risk, says official

Rain Tianjin currently is experiencing does not pose any risk to people's health, and an evacuation will be ordered if necessary, Bao Jingling, chief engineer of Tianjin's bureau of environmental protection, said at a news conference on Tuesday morning.

Bao also said emergency action plans are in place against possible precipitations.

China's central meteorological authority has predicted a thunder storm over the site where the explosions happened, and where hundreds of tons of toxic cyanide still reside.

People worry that rains might complicate rescue efforts and spread pollution in Tianjin port, which was rocked by the blasts last week.

Bao said there is no excessive level of the toxic chemical cyanide outside the cordoned off area.

"An excessive level of cyanide has been detected at eight locations within the cordoned off area from 0:00-24:00 Monday, with the highest reaching 28.4 times," said Bao.

About 3,000 tons of highly hazardous chemicals were stored at the warehouse in Tianjin when it was hit by explosions last week, according to Niu Yueguang, deputy director of the Ministry of Public Security.

Among the detected 40 kinds of poisonous chemicals, there are 700-ton sodium cyanide, 800-ton ammonium nitrate and 500-ton potassium nitrate.

The death toll was 114 by 9:00 am on Tuesday, with 83 bodies identified; 57 remain missing. More than 690 are receiving treatment at hospitals, with 20 in critical condition and 37 severely injured.

Yu Xuewei, Chairman of Rui Hai International Logistics Co - owner of the warehouse, and Du Shexuan, vice chairman of the company, and eight others were taken into custody on Aug 13, officials said at a news conference on Tuesday morning.