HOUSTON A large industrial explosion killed at least two people in the US city of Houston early Friday, shattering windows and damaging homes as shocked residents emergedto surveythe destruction. Police chief Art Acevedo said two fatalities were confirmed afterthe pre-dawn blast at a manufacturing firm scattered debris half a mile (800 meters) away. Firefighters, emergency services and police rushedtothe scenewhen aloud blast was heard across much of the Texas city at about 4:15 am (1015 GMT). Officials saidthe explosion had ripped through a grinding and manufacturing business 18 miles northwest of downtown Houston. —APP
