Angry Tianjin residents demand compensation from the government

On Monday, about 100 people whose homes were damaged, and in some cases, destroyed, during the blasts that rocked Tianjin, China, on Wednesday held a protest, asking the government to compensate them.

The residents marched outside of a hotel where officials have been holding daily news conferences about the incident, holding signs that read, "We victims demand: Government, buy back our houses" and "Kids are asking: How can we grow up healthy?" The explosions originated at a warehouse where "several hundred" tons of the toxic chemical sodium cyanide were stored, The Associated Press reports. It was a violation of safety rules; state media said no more than 10 tons were supposed to be there at a time, and the chemicals should not have been so close to a residential area and highway.

Authorities say there are no substantial leaks of sodium cyanide, and all waterways leading to the sea have been sealed. Tianjin officials have not been able to explain how the warehouse was able to operate so close to homes and businesses, and prosecutors have put together a team to investigate management and any possible offenses having to do with the explosions. The death toll is currently at 114, with 70 people missing.

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