connecticut news

Around 50 workers on site at Connecticut gas blast
At least two people have been killed and dozens injured by an explosion at a power plant in the US state of Connecticut, local media report.

A huge explosion has rocked a gas-fired power plant in the US state of Connecticut, killing at least two people and leaving others injured.

People living up to 50km (30 miles) away reported that their homes were shaken by the blast at the Kleen Energy plant, being built outside Middletown.

Black smoke could be seen pouring out of the site shortly afterwards.

There are reports of people trapped under the remains of a plant building, and a rescue operation is under way.
Middletown Fire Department Deputy Fire Marshall Al Santostefano said there were about 50 construction workers on the site at the time of the explosion, and that Connecticut Governor Jodi Rell had approved the deployment of urban search-and-rescue teams at the scene.

The back of one of the plant's largest buildings had been heavily damaged, he told reporters.

"There is a possibility that there might be people trapped in the rubble," he said, adding that officials were not aware how many workers were unaccounted for.

A plant worker and residents of Middletown react to the blast

There were at least 100 firefighters on the scene and it had taken them an hour to contain the fire caused by the blast, he said.

Officials have said there is no further danger to the public, and have not evacuated the area. The plant, however, remains cordoned off.

The nearby Middlesex Hospital told the Associated Press it had received 11 victims, while the hospital the state capital, Hartford, has treated three others.

Governor Rell is on her way to Middletown and has activated the state emergency operations centre in Hartford.

'Gas line test'

Mr Santostefano said a natural gas pipeline running near the plant had exploded at 1117 (1617 GMT). The cause is not yet known.

One local resident said the shockwave had felt like an earthquake.

"We heard such a loud explosion and the dog was outside and I heard her bark. And then when we went outside we saw a very big explosion of bright orange flame between the two smoke stacks," Lynn Townsend told the Associated Press.