The fire brigade stand ready to evacuate local residents from a blast site in Tianjin, Aug 13, 2015. [Photo/IC]

The country's top health authority is providing a medical response. Medics specializing in blast injuries and burns have arrived from Beijing and are treating the wounded.

Hundreds of volunteers are rushing to hospitals for blood donation, and taxi drivers and private car owners offered help to transport the wounded to hospitals. Besides the 15 donation centers in Tianjin, donations from neighboring areas have been transferred to the city.

Specialized anti-chemical warfare troops have joined the operation. Special masks are worn by members of the rescue team as it has not yet been confirmed whether the dangerous chemicals contain highly toxic cyanide.

Tianjin Fire Department says the fire is contained but it will take a long time to fully extinguish it due to the complex composition of chemical elements. No more explosions are expected.