WASHINGTON, Sept. 2 (Xinhuanet) -- Explosions and fires were erupting on Friday in US city of New Orleans devastated by Hurricane katrina, CNN reported.

    The explosions and fires were reported in southwest New Orleans after another night of lawless.

    Katrina, which hit New Orleans days ago, forced hundreds of thousands of people from their homes and shut refineries along the Gulf Coast, sending gasoline prices soaring to new records of well over 3 US dollars a gallon in most part of the country.

    With Armed looters running in the streets, US troops poured into the New Orleans on Friday with shoot-to-kill orders.

    "These troops are battle-tested, They have M-16s and are locked and loaded," Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco said.

    "These troops know how to shoot and kill and I expect they will," the governor said. Enditem