New Orleans rocked by huge blasts

BBC in DEEPTH...

New Orleans rocked by huge blasts

Fri Sep 2, 2005 13:14

64.140.158.13

New Orleans rocked by huge blasts

VIDEO:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4207202.stm

Victims' desperation

The New Orleans riverfront has been hit by a series of massive blasts, and fires are raging in the area.

But the blast is believed to have involved a chemical factory and police have sent a team to see if toxic fumes have been released.

The news came as extra troops were sent to quell lawlessness in the city, where thousands are stranded without food or water in Hurricane Katrina's aftermath
=========================

We were spared the storm's fury but are now having to deal with the refugees and the misery - it's almost unbelievable what's happening
Dan
Jena, Louisiana

But the head of the New Orleans emergency operations described the relief effort as a national disgrace.

Map of central New Orleans
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4207202.stm#map

And Mayor Ray Nagin has angrily denounced the level of outside help the city has received. "People are dying here," he said.

'Shoot to kill'

A large cloud of acrid, black smoke is drifting over New Orleans following Friday's blast along the Mississippi riverfront.

As desperation grows among the thousands stranded without food or water in New Orleans four days after Hurricane Katrina, there are signs of growing lawlessness in the city.

The incident in the already crippled city came after Louisiana's governor said 300 "battle-tested" National Guardsmen were being sent to quell the unrest.

"They have M-16s and are locked and loaded. These troops know how to shoot and kill and I expect they will," Kathleen Blanco said.

Washington pledged a further 4,200 guardsmen in coming days, and said that 3,000 army soldiers may also be sent to the city where violence has disrupted relief efforts.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4207202.stm#text

Sandbags have been dropped in an attempt block up the levees that were breached in the storm, enabling waters to flood the city.