Taiwan extends condolences in wake of Tianjin blasts

TAIPEI -- Taiwan's Strait Exchange Foundation (SEF) has initiated emergency contact with the mainland's Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS) after the deadly blasts in Tianjin City, a SEF statement said on Friday.

The foundation expressed its concerns and sympathies both in a letter and over the phone, and both the SEF and ARATS will keep in close contact, according to the statement.

The SEF has contacted the association of Taiwanese businessmen in Tianjin and learned that only one Taiwan man was slightly injured during the explosion as of Thursday night.

Taiwan's ruling Kuomintang (KMT) Party Thursday called on authorities and organizations in the island to provide relief supplies and professional assistance. Spokesperson Yang Wei-chong said relief workers can be dispatched if necessary.

Taiwan's Mainland Affair Council also sent its condolences the same day and offered to "provide all necessary support and assistance."

The warehouse blast, which occurred late Wednesday night, killed at least 56 people, including 21 firefighters. A total of 721 were injured, of whom 25 still in critical condition.