This aerial photo taken from video provided by KTRK-TV shows damage to buildings after an explosion in Houston on Friday, Jan. 24, 2020. A large explosion left rubble scattered in the area, damaged nearby homes and was felt for miles away. A fire continues to burn and people have been told to avoid the area. (KTRK-TV via AP)
The Associated Press
HOUSTON (AP) - Houston's mayor and others say they will work to provide assistance to residents whose homes were damaged after a massive explosion at a warehouse that killed two workers and injured 20 others.
Mayor Sylvester Turner on Saturday walked through the impacted neighborhoods in northwest Houston and spoke with residents who were cleaning up after Friday's explosion. Cleanup and repair efforts continued Sunday.
'œThese people's lives have been devastated by the Houston explosion. We are not going to forget about them,'ť Turner said.
The explosion happened about 4:30 a.m. Friday inside a building at Watson Grinding and Manufacturing, which makes valves and provides thermal-spray coatings for equipment in various industries, authorities said. Employees Frank Flores and Gerardo Castorena were killed.
In a statement released Saturday, Castorena's family said, "It's with a heavy heart that we had to say goodbye to a loving father, son, brother, and friend yesterday morning. We do ask for privacy as we grieve during this time. Thank you all to those for your kind words and support as we get through this difficult time.'ť
Authorities say an additional 20 people were injured - two other warehouse workers and 18 others from neighboring homes and businesses. The explosion's cause is being investigated.
More than 200 homes in surrounding neighborhoods were damaged as the force of the blast shattered windows, knocked down ceilings, bent garage doors and moved some homes off their foundations.
Dozens of volunteers were out helping residents on Saturday.
More than 80 of the volunteers were from Restore Houston, a network of area churches dedicated to assisting families whose homes were damaged from flooding during Hurricane Harvey in 2017.
'œWe'll be doing some work on homes, boarding up windows, tarping some roofs, but more importantly we'll be loving on our neighbors and making sure they are aware that they are not alone in this,'ť Josef Klam, a pastor with Chapelwood United Methodist Church, told the Houston Chronicle.
Smoke fills the sky after a massive explosion rocks west Houston Friday, Jan. 24, 2020, in Houston. A massive explosion early Friday leveled a warehouse in Houston and damaged nearby buildings and homes, rousing frightened people from their sleep miles away. (Melissa Phillips/Houston Chronicle via AP)
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Flames fill the sky after a massive explosion rocks west Houston Friday, Jan. 24, 2020, in Houston. A massive explosion early Friday leveled a warehouse in Houston and damaged nearby buildings and homes, rousing frightened people from their sleep miles away. (Marie D. De Jesús/Houston Chronicle via AP)
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ADDS EDITORS NOTE DUE TO GRAPHIC CONTENT OF IMAGE - EDS NOTE: GRAPHIC CONTENT - Houston Fire Department firefighters stand near a body that is surrounded by debris after a nearby explosion in Houston, Friday, Jan. 24, 2020. A massive explosion early Friday leveled a warehouse and damaged nearby buildings and homes, rousing frightened people from their sleep miles away. (Godofredo A. Vásquez/Houston Chronicle via AP)
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Maria Hernandez climbs her stairwell as she and her family worked to move their belongings out as they sifted through their damaged home in the Bridgeland Lane area of Houston, Sunday, Jan. 26, 2020, after the Watson Grinding Manufacturing explosion early Friday morning. Her ceiling, right, collapsed even further after overnight rains. (Karen Warren/Houston Chronicle via AP)
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Houston Fire Chief Samuel Peña talks with Hortensia Lima, whose home was seriously damaged and deemed uninhabitable on Stanford Court in Houston, Sunday, Jan. 26, 2020, after the Friday morning explosion at the Watson Grinding Manufacturing plant. (Karen Warren/Houston Chronicle via AP)
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Red "danger" tape circles a damaged home on Bridgeland Lane in Houston, Sunday, Jan. 26, 2020, after the Watson Grinding Manufacturing explosion early Friday morning. (Karen Warren/Houston Chronicle via AP)
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Kent Heap stands with a crumbling ceiling inside of his sister, Carol Goff's home, as people continued to sift through their damaged homes on Bridgeland Lane in Houston, Sunday, Jan. 26, 2020, after the Watson Grinding Manufacturing explosion early Friday morning. (Karen Warren/Houston Chronicle via AP)
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Houston Fire Chief Samuel Peña talks with Hortensia Lima, whose home was seriously damaged and deemed uninhabitable on Stanford Court in Houston, Sunday, Jan. 26, 2020, after the Friday morning explosion at the Watson Grinding Manufacturing plant. (Karen Warren/Houston Chronicle via AP)
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Angel Silva talks about the blast that damaged his newly purchased home on Bridgeland Lane in Houston, Sunday, Jan. 26, 2020, after the Watson Grinding Manufacturing explosion early Friday morning. (Karen Warren/Houston Chronicle via AP)
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