The massive blasts in Tianjin's Binhai New Area have rocked Chinese society. While Tianjin is still making full efforts in the rescue operation, a huge discussion is unfolding in the public opinion sphere over the disaster.

All the voices are mixed together. These include praise for the heroic firefighters, some of whom gave their lives, and the volunteers, but there are also sarcasm and queries over inadequate rescue efforts. Thanks to the Internet, the latter kind of voice seems to have captured more attention.

Under huge pressure, the city has made it through the first day after the catastrophe.

Tianjin municipal government ought to undertake the responsibility. After such a major calamity with heavy casualties, it is natural to hear not only sympathy and support for the city, but also certain complaints over inescapable human errors. Especially in the Internet era, the rescue teams often need to conduct their work among severe judgments.

However, the reality is there: is it noble or morally correct to criticize the rescue teams in the first place? Not necessarily.

Whenever a disaster occurs, delinquent people will be behind it. Investigations and punishments after the incident have already become an indispensable part of each case.

Chinese President Xi Jinping issued an order on Thursday, demanding to find the cause of the accident and punish those who were involved in any wrongdoings.

Yet Thursday was only day one after the explosion. Some of the fires are still smoldering. Treating the wounded should be the priority. It can be imagined how urgent it was in terms of the rescue operation, and how much was needed for these united and concerted efforts. At this point, is it really good timing to constantly question the rescuers?

This is the time when the media should provide as many facts to the public as possible. These messages should be based on information offered by the official authorities, and with independent discoveries from the media. If some reporters or opinion leaders stormed into questioning the rescue operation, they should then seriously reflect on their constructiveness. These questions have led to mistrust from the public toward the rescue efforts, just when the rescuers needed encouragement and support the most.

Quite a few incredulities were directed against the enormous sacrifices of firefighters on Thursday.

Some deem the rescue mission unprofessional and a mistake under the circumstances. But people who make such assertions are the ones that are really unprofessional.

The cruel reality has taught everyone a hard lesson. There is no need for us to keep pointing fingers at wrongdoings from kilometers away.

In a world in which things can always be hushed up, always be hidden, it is courageous for people to toss out questions.

But in a disaster that is in the media spotlight, those indiscriminate queries should be restrained. More time is needed for the rescue effort.