The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has issued a warning to all British travellers to avoid the port area of Tianjin following last night’s explosions.
The blasts in China’s northern city Tianjin has reportedly killed around 44 people and injured more than 500.
The FCO said: “There are reports of numerous casualties. British nationals should avoid the port area until the authorities give the all clear.”
The UK Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said there are currently no reports of any British injured but staff are “working urgently to establish whether any have been caught up in this terrible incident”.
According to the BBC the blasts happened in a warehouse for hazardous chemicals and caused a huge fireball that could be seen from space.
The first explosion at around 11.30pm local time on Wednesday was followed by another, more powerful blast, shortly after. Shockwaves were felt several kilometres away.
Read a special report on managing travel to Nepal following the earthquake in April.
Sign up to BBT’s twice-weekly newsletter