The death toll from massive warehouse explosions in north China's Tianjin city rose to 50 Thursday evening, 17 of whom were firemen, local authorities said.[Special coverage]
Earlier reports said 12 were firemen.
The Tianjin Port Group Co. said dozens of its employees were unaccounted for and a search operation is under way.
Meanwhile, 701 others were admitted to hospitals, and of them, more than 70 are in critical condition, the city's publicity department said.
