According to the BBC, who are in turn relying on the Chinese State media, the devastating explosion seen in these videos occurred “when a shipment of explosives blew up” at roughly 23:30pm local time (11:30am EST) in Tianjin City, a “major port and industrial area to the south-east of the Chinese capital, Beijing, and home to 7.5 million people.”
The explosion is absolutely terrifying, as is the follow up shock wave that can be seen hitting people recording it several kms away.
So far, at least 50 people have been taken to hospital.
Here are a few more videos of the explosion: