Explosions hit waterfront in New Orleans, Louisiana
{{date|September  2, 2005}}
{{New Orleans Disaster Infobox}}
Fires are raging in [[w:New Orleans|New Orleans]] following a series of explosions along the waterfront. The cause of the blasts is not known. A chemical reaction with the rising waters is one possibility. One official has stated that the explosions took place at a chemical storage facility near the riverfront a few miles south of the [[w:French Quarter|French Quarter]].

This news comes as police suspended search-and-rescue operations in order to attempt to halt the rising levels of looting in the city, and after Louisiana Governor [[w:Kathleen Blanco|Kathleen Blanco]] ordered National Guard troops to "shoot and kill" rioters and looters. [http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20050902/us_nm/weather_katrina_kill_dc]

[[Image:Katrina typical damage2.jpg|left|thumb|Flooding of residential areas]]

[[Image:Katrina typical damage.jpg|left|thumb|Typical damage from the hurricane]]

Although aid has been promised by the US federal authorities, New Orleans Mayor [[w:Ray Nagin|Ray Nagin]] criticised them for what he feels is a slow response.

"They don't have a clue what's going on down there," Mayor Ray Nagin told WWL-AM Thursday night.

"They flew down here one time two days after the doggone event was over with TV cameras, AP reporters, all kind of goddamn — excuse my French, everybody in America, but I am pissed." 

== Related Stories ==

* [[Louisiana officials accused of blocking rescue volunteers]]

== Sources ==
*{{source|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/4207202.stm
|title=New Orleans rocked by huge blasts
|author=
|pub=BBC News
|date=September 02, 2005}}

*{{source|url=http://apnews.excite.com/article/20050902/D8CC2T6O1.html
|title=Explosion, Fires Reported in New Orleans
|author=Allen G. Breed
|pub=Excite News
|date=September 02, 2005}}

*{{source|url=http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/7213FDAC-32C7-40A1-BF7C-F41AA99C10CB.htm|title=New Orleans rocked by explosions
|author=
|pub=Al Jazeera
|date=September 02, 2005}}

*{{source|url=http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20050902/us_nm/weather_katrina_kill_dc
|title=La. governor warns troops will "shoot and kill"
|author=
|pub=Reuters
|date=September 01, 2005}}

{{Publish}}

{{PD-Article}}
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[[Category:United States]]
[[Category:Louisiana]]
[[Category:Hurricane season, 2005]]

[[de:Schwere Explosionen in New Orleans]]
Fires are raging in New Orleans following a series of explosions along the waterfront. The cause of the blasts is not known. A chemical reaction with the rising waters is one possibility. One official has stated that the explosions took place at a chemical storage facility near the riverfront a few miles south of the French Quarter.

This news comes as police suspended search-and-rescue operations in order to attempt to halt the rising levels of looting in the city, and after Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco ordered National Guard troops to "shoot and kill" rioters and looters. 

Flooding of residential areas

Typical damage from the hurricane

Although aid has been promised by the US federal authorities, New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin criticised them for what he feels is a slow response.

"They don't have a clue what's going on down there," Mayor Ray Nagin told WWL-AM Thursday night.

"They flew down here one time two days after the doggone event was over with TV cameras, AP reporters, all kind of goddamn — excuse my French, everybody in America, but I am pissed." 

*

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United States Louisiana Hurricane season, 2005