Heavy rain puts recovery in peril

Thunderstorms Tuesday complicated recovery efforts from last week’s massive explosions at a warehouse in China’s Tianjin port that killed at least 114 people, left 57 missing and exposed dangerous chemicals — including some that could become flammable on contact with water. Experts have expressed concern that rain could spread hazardous material at the site or set off chemical reactions sparking further explosions. Rain began falling mid- morning, but there was no immediate word of new blasts. Underscoring the weakness of China’s system of industrial safety, the head of the national organization responsible for those efforts has been placed under investigation for suspected “severe violation of discipline and law” — shorthand for corruption — the Communist party’s anti- graft watchdog said Tuesday.