Pupils return to schools in aftermath of disaster

More than 300 kindergartens, primary and middle schools in Tianjin Binhai New Area, including 16 affected by the huge blasts on Aug 12, began the new semester on Monday.

School buildings damaged by the blasts have been repaired, and the environment is safe for students and teachers, according to monitoring data, said Fang Hua, an official at the area's education department.

As of Monday afternoon, the blasts that rocked a warehouse storing hazardous chemicals had claimed 158 lives, including 94 firefighters, and left 15 missing.