Tianjin Explosion: Blast In Warehouse Illegally Storing Chemicals, 2 Months After Deadly Disaster

Tianjin was hit by a warehouse blast Monday night, just two months after explosions rocked the port city in northern China leaving over 160 people dead.

The incident took place at a warehouse storing "alcohol materials" in Beichen district's Xiditou Township, China’s official Xinhua News Agency reported, adding that there were no casualties. Nearly 6,600 pounds of alcohol were being stored in the 7,500 square-foot warehouse, the Associated Press reported, citing Tianjin government's news office.

Two people have been detained for illegally using the warehouse to store chemicals, China’s local network CCTV News reported, adding that an investigation is underway.

The Tianjin government also reportedly said the incident posed no hazardous risks to people or the environment.

In August, a warehouse complex storing large amounts of hazardous chemicals caught fire and exploded in Tianjin, 90 miles southeast of Beijing, killing 165 people and leaving eight missing. Last month, authorities announced they were ending search for the missing people and a court will issue death certificates for those unaccounted for.

Several arrests have been made in connection with the deadly Aug. 12 explosions at the Ruihai International Logistics warehouse. Investigations showed the warehouse stored at least 700 tons of sodium cyanide, which can form a toxic vapor when combined with water.

According to Chinese safety regulations, large warehouses of hazardous chemicals cannot be located within a kilometer, or 0.6 miles, of residential sites, public buildings or transportation lines. But the warehouse in Tianjin did not adhere to these standards, with at least three residential complexes built within a kilometer of the site.