Timely release of key information important

The seventh news conference for the massive explosions in Tianjin, which was held on Monday, has drawn special attention amid rising media and public questioning of the timeliness, sufficiency and effectiveness of previous information disclosures. Indeed, there is still plenty of room for the municipal government to do a better job in disclosing information, which is crucial for managing a crisis on the magnitude of the one in Tianjin.

According to Monday's news conference, the death toll from the explosions rose to 114 after rescuers found two more bodies in the debris; 70 people remain missing. Local authorities also confirmed that the air quality around the site was normal.

The news conferences for the blasts have bewildered many. Since the weekend, media organizations, such as People's Daily website and Beijing News, have discussed at length the "knowns" and the "unknowns" arising from the previous six press conferences.