On-site photo from Tencent.com

A blast occurred at a warehouse in the north China port city on Wednesday night, killing 44 people including 12 firefighters and injuring more than 520 as of Thursday morning.

China's Public Security Minister Guo Shengkun arrived at the blast site in Tianjin to direct rescue operations and visit the wounded, making the first priority to ensure the security of the people's lives and property.

Guo arrived in Tianjin at about 5:00 a.m. on Thursday and immediately went to the blast spot. He said the blast has caused serious casualties and great concern from Chinese leaders and people.

Authorities must "convene every resource available and take every measure that can be taken" for the rescue and emergency handling, Guo said.

Guo paid a visit to the wounded in hospitals and asked medical staff to spare no efforts in relieving their pain and to cure them as soon as possible.

Earlier Thursday, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang have urged all-out efforts to save the injured and minimize casualties in the Tianjin blast.

In an instruction, President Xi ordered local authorities in Tianjin to spare no effort to treat the injured, search for the missing and contain the fire.

(Source: Xinhua)