Blasts shatter economic hub

Casualties: At least 50 dead, including 17 firefighters. More than 700 injured, 70 of them severely, and 30 remain missing/ What happened? Cause of the explosions at a warehouse in the Tianjin Binhai New Area has not yet been determined

Blasts near the world's fourth-largest port that killed at least 50 people and injured hundreds could strike a blow to the regional economy and dent the leadership's enthusiasm to turn the area into China's next economic front line, experts said.

Cargo deliveries have been affected, and logistics in all of northern China delayed after at least two explosions went off in a warehouse handling hazardous materials in Tianjin Binhai New Area, 160 kilometers southeast of Beijing.