Chinese state media says the death toll in huge explosions that hit the port city of Tianjin has more than doubled to 44, with over 500 other people injured.

Smoke was still rising and fires burning, hours after Wednesday night’s blasts, which were so large that they could be seen by satellites in space.

Buildings are said to have collapsed and shockwaves could be felt for kilometres around.

Death toll of China blast rises to 44; more than 500 injured http://t.co/sWhLBXKBBn pic.twitter.com/sGjtKXlRq5— Chicago Tribune (@chicagotribune) August 13, 2015


The explosions occurred at a warehouse in an industrial area of the northeastern city, where toxic chemicals and gas were stored.

At least a dozen firefighters are among the dead.

Anxious relatives, including Zhang Shengfeng, are looking for those missing.

“He is my brother,” he said.

“We were in Beijing when we heard about the explosion so we drove here to look for him. So far we have found nothing. We heard there we