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Casualties of the 2015 Tianjin explosions
Container storage site disaster in China From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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A total of 173 people died during the 2015 Tianjin explosions, 8 of them being missing and presumed dead; a further 798 people were injured.[1][2] The Tianjin explosions was the most deadly single incident for Chinese firefighters since the establishment of the People's Republic of China in 1949.[3]
Statistics
China Fire Services active service firefighters
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Prior to its disbandment in 2018, China Fire Services was part of the Ministry of Public Security Active Service Forces, meaning CFS firefighters were People's Armed Police personnel.
A total of 46 firefighting companies, 143 firefighting vehicles and over 1000 fire engines of the China Fire Services were dispatched.[7]
A total of 24 active service firefighters were killed, with 69 more injured.[8]
The 8th Street Company suffered the most casualties out of all the companies responding to the explosions, out of 26 firefighters sent, 8 died and 18 were injured, causing the company to only be able to be re-mobilized on December 31, 2015, due to the casualties and multiple firefighters leaving due to survivor guilt.[9][10] On March 29, 2017, the 8th Street Company received the honorary title "Firefighting Hero Company" (灭火救援英雄中队) for their actions and losses during the Tianjin explosions.[11]
After the list of fallen firefighters was made public, multiple ambulances had to be deployed due to many family members of the victims having heart attacks out of shock.[12]
Confirmed dead
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Volunteer firefighters
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All volunteer firefighter (Known as "career firefighters"(专职消防员) in China)[45] casualties were in the Port of Tianjin Public Security Bureau Firefighting division.[4] The Port of Tianjin Public Security Bureau was renamed to the Tianjin Binhai New Area Public Security Bureau Port of Tianjin Subbureau in 2018, and disbanded in 2022.
Casualties were particularly high among volunteer firefighters due to their fire station's close proximity to the explosions, meaning they were some of the first to respond.[46]
All volunteer firefighters killed in the line of duty received martyr status.[47]
Confirmed dead
Presumed dead
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Policemen
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The Port of Tianjin Public Security Bureau 's Police chief also suffered heavy injuries during the explosions, while deputy Chief Chen Jiahua was killed in the explosions[46][48]
Port of Tianjin PSB 5th Firefighting team
All 25 firefighters of the Port of Tianjin PSB's 5th Firefighting team who were dispatched to the explosions were killed, along with all 6 fire engines of the unit being destroyed in the incident. The remaining members of the team, consisting of 1 political commissar, 3 firefighters, 3 policemen, 1 communications officer and 2 drivers were all off duty.[60]
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Civilians
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The vast majority of civilian casualties came from the storage workers at the port or family members of the firefighters, though some were also people living near the port.[4]
Confirmed dead
Presumed dead
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Identification of victims and casualty count
The full list of casualties, including those missing presumed dead, was released on September 11, 2016, after it was determined that the remaining 8 people missing likely had not survived.[14][61]
Posthumous awards
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On September 9, 2016, all firefighters and police killed during the explosion posthumously received martyr status and 2.3 million RMB in compensation.[47]
All 24 CFS firefighters posthumously received the Medal of Devotion for National Defense.[62] Additionally, all 8 firefighters from the 8th Street company who died posthumously received 1st Class Meritorious Services Medals.[10]
Legal status of Port of Tianjin Public Security Bureau firefighters and police
The volunteer firefighters and private police of the Port of Tianjin Public Security Bureau were technically employees of the Port of Tianjin which meant they were not public employees and were non-staff personnel, leading to questions about their eligibility for posthumous awards.[46] When asked about this by journalists on the 16th of August, then-premier Li Keqiang responded:[63]
Both active service and volunteer firefighters involved in the disaster relief [after the explosions] have received training, they knew the fire would be dangerous, but chose to keep the danger to them [and performed their duties]. Their sacrifice makes us heartbroken. They are all heroes, there is no such thing as "non-staff" in heroes! (参加施救的现役和非现役消防人员都受过培训,他们明知火场有危险,但把危险留给自己。他们的牺牲让我们痛心。他们都是英雄,英雄没有“编外”!)
Li Keqiang also said that both active service and volunteer firefighters should receive the same treatment in terms of awards and condolences, as they performed the same duties.[64] On September 9, 2016, all volunteer firefighters were given martyr status along with standard firefighters, with each of their families receiving 2.3 million RMB in compensation.[47]
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See also
- List of People's Armed Police personnel killed in the line of duty
- Casualties of the September 11 attacks
- Line of duty death
- 2019 Muli wildifires - Single incident with most Chinese firefighters killed since the 2015 explosions[65]
References
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