Smoke and fire are seen after an explosion in the Binhai New Area in north China's Tianjin Municipality on Aug. 13, 2015. [Xinhua/Yue Yuewei]

TIANJIN, Aug. 13 -- A team of 214 military specialists in handling nuclear and biochemical materials has arrived in the northern Chinese city of Tianjin following Wednesday's warehouse explosion, thought to have been caused by volatile chemicals on site.

The personnel, all from the Chinese People's Liberation Army(PLA) Beijing Military Area Command, left Beijing at noon on Thursday, led by Deputy General Chief of Staff Wang Zhengrong.

The military department has also organized 130 militiamen to assist with the rescue operation, including by controlling drones and piloting helicopters to observe the site and drop water on the flames.

A total of 125 officers and soldiers on reserve duty from Tianjin Garrison Command are also working on the site.

The PLA Beijing Military Area Command sent 45 medics to set up clinics 3 km from the blast site earlier on Thursday. Seventy-eight patients have so far been treated at the clinics and transferred to other hospitals.

The death toll from the incident currently stands at 44. Twelve firefighters are among the dead.

A first explosion occurred around 11:30 p.m. on Wednesday at the warehouse in the Binhai New Area. Only seconds later, a second blast wreaked more havoc, shooting fireballs into the sky, damaging nearby buildings and setting cars on fire.