A landmark of Houston’s skyline since 1952 was turned to dust in seconds as demolition crews used high explosives to bring down the 20-storey former Prudential Building.

The crews had planned initially to touch off the explosives shortly before 8 a.m. on Sunday, but dense fog delayed the series of blasts which brought down the skyscraper that had dominated the Texas city’s medical district, for more than three hours.

The Prudential Insurance Company of America built the 500,000 square-foot skyscraper to serve as its southwest regional headquarters.

The MD Anderson Cancer Centre bought the building in 1974 and made it the centre’s main building in 1980, before vacating and closing the building in April 2010.

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