The death toll from the giant chemical explosions in the Chinese port of Tianjin reached 104, the official Xinhua news agency said, as residents around the site of the disaster were evacuated Saturday over fears of highly-poisonous sodium cyanide.

A days-long fire intensified at the hazardous goods storage facility with a series of new explosions sending a thick black column of smoke into the air, according to Xinhua.

The news agency said late Saturday the death toll had climbed from 85 to 104, citing local officials.