containers that caught fire and then exploded last night in the port city of tianjin. the shock waves blew out windows and doors, get this, a mile and a half away from the site of the explosion. 12 of the people now registered as dead were firefighters. more than 500 people are hurt at this most early count and are being treated in hospitals there. officials have called off the efforts, though, to stop the fire. this happening just a couple hours ago. they just don't know what it is that's burning. and how dangerous it is to be close by that inferno. cnn's will rippley is there and has more. >> reporter: when you look around at all the devastation here, it's really remarkable. one, just all of the damage that was done to this convention center building, the windows smashed in, the doors smashed in as well. take a look at this car. it clearly caught fire. the windows smashed. it's crumpled to bits. and we are standing two