'Nobody told us there were chemicals here'

Some residents say they will not return to their homes now that they know toxic products were stored nearby

Liu Xuerui thought he could start a new life when he bought an apartment near Tianjin port in 2013. It was not until Wednesday night that he realized he was living close to a toxic chemical store.

It cost him dearly. Waves of explosions equal to 21 metric tons of TNT shattered his windows and ripped off his apartment doors.