Investigations widen into deadly stampede at Houston rap concert

HOUSTON - At least two investigations, one of them criminal, were underway on Sunday into the deadly stampede during rap star Travis Scott's Astroworld music festival that killed at least eight people and injured dozens in Houston.

Officials in Houston said autopsies on Friday's victims were being performed as soon as possible so their bodies could be returned to family members, with the identities of some of the dead expected to be released on Sunday.

The dead were young, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner told reporters on Saturday: two were aged 14 and 16, two were 21, another two were 23, with a seventh aged 27.

An eighth victim has yet to be identified, he added.

Harris County Judge Lina Hildago called for an "objective, independent" investigation into the tragedy, as she spoke about the rap festival being attended by 50,000 fans when the stampede took place.

"Perhaps the plans were inadequate. Perhaps the plans were good but they weren't followed," Hildago said. "The families of those who died, everybody affected, deserves answers."

In a 90-second video released on Twitter on Saturday, Scott said that, while on stage, "I could just not imagine the severity of the situation." He described himself as "absolutely devastated" by the incident.

Houston city police chief Troy Finner said his department had opened a criminal investigation by homicide and narcotics detectives, following reports that somebody in the audience had been injecting people with drugs.

The city's fire chief, Samuel Pena, said several concert goers had to be revived with the anti-drug overdose medicine Narcan, including a security officer who appeared to have been injected in the neck with a substance by a concert goer.

The rest of the two-day festival has been cancelled after the disaster unfolded at NRG Park at about 9.30 p.m. during the headline performance by Scott, a Grammy nominated singer and producer, at the climax of the opening day.

The deaths happened near the stage when the crowd surged towards it, with some suffering cardiac arrests and other medical trauma, officials said.

-reuters

World's largest oil trade show sees more Chinese presence

HOUSTON -- The world's largest oil and natural gas trade show, the Offshore Technology Conference (OTC), kicked off in the US energy hub of Houston on Monday with a visible presence of emerging Chinese companies.

The annual event, a conference and exhibition, was unveiled Monday morning in the cavernous complex of NRG Park near downtown Houston. Thousands of professionals from around the world braved the Texas heat to attend the industry gala.

The show has apparently felt the pinch from the plunging oil prices as quite a few OTC veterans told Xinhua they saw less visitors and exhibitors coming this year.

OTC Chairman Ed Stokes, however, remained optimistic, saying though he did not have the attendance number right now but this year's exhibition floors are the largest ever -- enough to cover around 12 American football fields.

"The drop in oil price may have some impact (on OTC), but it doesn't affect the quality of the programs we have. The people here to speak are top class and the equipment and technologies on display are top notch," Stokes said.

Stokes noticed the increasing number of Chinese companies coming to the show. Among some 2,700 exhibitors, about one tenth are from China.

"We have more than 130 countries represented here. China is the second largest economy in the world and also a big player in oil industry," said Stokes. "So it's very important for Chinese companies to be here to advertise themselves and network with others."

Cao Minghui, an operation director with Sinopec Oilfield Services Corporation, admitted to Xinhua that as a latecomer in the industry, China still lags behind in many areas, especially in core technologies, but "we boast some leading stuff too."

"We are here to show our strength," Cao said while pointing to several simulated models of rig platforms, "we are eager to expand our overseas market."

Yang Yun, executive vice president of China Offshore Oil Engineering Co., was more ambitious. "During previous years, we were here more to learn from others, but this year we are more focused on marketing our own products and landing overseas clients," he said.

The four-day-long show includes exhibitions, panel discussions by high-profile speakers, and technical sessions. Started in 1969, it showcases leading-edge technology for offshore drilling, exploration, production, and environmental protection.

source: interaksyon.com

Sleeping passenger locked in plane at Houston airport

HOUSTON -- A Louisiana man flying to California woke up on a dark, empty plane parked at Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston after sleeping through the call to exit the aircraft, officials said on Monday.

Tom Wagner was supposed to leave the plane in Houston last Friday and board a flight to California.

Instead, he found himself locked inside the ExpressJet plane, which was operating as a United Express flight.

He called his girlfriend for help, according to an exclusive interview he gave to Houston television station KTRK.

"She thought I was crazy. I said ... 'I'm locked on the plane. I'm telling you the truth; you better go somewhere and get me off this plane'," Wagner told the broadcaster.

Ground staff servicing the airplane a few hours after it landed found and released Wagner, ExpressJet spokeswoman Samantha Harrison said.

Company policy requires the flight crew to do a final sweep of the cabin and the company was investigating how Wagner was left onboard, Harrison said.

"As part of post-flight procedures, our flight attendants are responsible for completing a walk-through on the aircraft," Harrison said in an email.

The company said in a statement: "We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience this caused for the passenger."

Wagner told KTRK the airline paid for a hotel in Houston and gave him a $250 voucher for his trouble.

source: interaksyon.com