Death toll rises to 56 from Tianjin blasts

Firefighters put out a big fire point at the explosion site in Tianjin, north China, Aug. 14, 2015. The death toll has risen to 56, including 21 firemen, 721 others were hospitalized, including 25 critically wounded and 33 in serious condition, the rescue headquarters said Friday. (Xinhua/Shen Bohan)

TIANJIN, Aug. 14 -- The death toll has risen to 56, including 21 firemen, from massive warehouse explosions that hit north China's Tianjin City Wednesday night, local authorities said Friday.

Meanwhile, 721 others were hospitalized, including 25 critically wounded and 33 in serious condition, the rescue headquarters said.

A total of 44 people were rescued, said Zhou Tian, head of the city's fire department, after the two blasts happened at about 11:30 p.m. Wednesday following a fire in a warehouse for hazardous chemicals.

Firefighters have mostly extinguished the flames at the site, according to Zhou.

Initial estimates say the blasts have affected 17,000 households, 1,700 enterprises and 675 commercial stores, said Zhang Ruigang, vice head of Tianjin Binhai New Area.

The city has opened 12 schools and 3 apartment buildings to accommodate 6,300 homeless residents, Zhang said.