A team of military specialists who handle nuclear and biochemical materials arrived at China's Tianjin city on Thursday following a series of explosions at a warehouse.
The team of 214 personnel, all from the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Beijing Military Area Command, left Beijing at noon on Thursday, Xinhua news agency reported.
The military has also organised 130 men to assist with the rescue operation, including the use of drones and piloting helicopters to observe the site and drop water on the flames.
The PLA Beijing Military Area Command sent 45 doctors 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.
Wednesday's blasts left 44 dead, including 12 fire-fighters, and injured over 500 people.