Gas blast at Conn. power plant kills at least 5
Middletown: An explosion that sounded like a sonic boom blew out walls of an unfinished power plant and set off a fire during a test of natural gas lines on Sunday, killing at least five workers and injuring a dozen or more.
At least 12 people were injured in the explosion at the Kleen Energy Systems plant in Middletown, about 20 miles south of Hartford.
Deputy Fire Marshal Al Santostefano told The Associated Press on Sunday night that no one was known to be missing. Still, crews planned to spend all night going through debris in case there were any more victims. The cause of the gas explosion was unknown, and the investigation was to begin on Monday morning, he said.
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The explosion left huge pieces of metal that once encased the plant peeling off its sides. A large swath of the structure was blackened and surrounded by debris, but the building, its roof and its two smokestacks were still standing. Rescue crews had set up several tents alongside the site.
Image: An aerial view of the aftermath of an explosion at the Kleen Energy Systems plant located along the Connecticut River in Middletown, Conn. on Feb. 7, 2010.
Text & Images: AP
