People whose homes were damaged by the huge explosions in the Chinese city of Tianjin on 12 August have staged protests to demand compensation from the government.

Scores gathered outside the Mayfair Hotel, where officials have been giving news conferences. Residents say the chemical storage warehouses which blew up had been built illegally close to their homes. The blasts focused on a warehouse which was storing sodium cyanide

Officials now say 114 people died in the explosions while 70 people are still missing; majority of them being firefighters. .Nearly 700 casualties are still in hospital. State media reports that not less than 6,000 people have been displaced. Some 17,000 homes have also been damaged by the blasts and their shockwaves. An investigation into the cause of the explosions is under way.

The warehouse was storing hundreds of tonnes of sodium cyanide, far more than legally allowed. It was also within 500m (1,640ft) of homes, flouting laws which state a 1km minimum distance.

Local media had earlier reported that there were at least three residential complexes within 1km of the warehouse, which belonged to Ruihai International Logistics.

In the latest in a number of small protests, the people gathered at the Mayfair Hotel on Monday said they wanted compensation for their damaged homes, and would refuse to return to them even if they were ruled safe.

"We don't know if there will be further leaks in the future. We could be living near a ticking time bomb," one resident, who gave his name as Chen, told reporters.

In an open letter to the authorities, the residents said their groundwater could have been contaminated, and that logistics companies and chemical "dumping grounds" remained close to residential complexes.

"Our neighbours lost their lives there. Their screams can never be erased for a long time. How can we live in that 'execution ground' with any peace of mind?" The letter states.