Gas blast in the US

vIndianz.com (8 Feb, 2010) — Middletown, (Connecticut, the US): An explosion blew out walls of an unfinished power plant and set off a fire during a test of natural gas lines Sunday, killing at least five workers, an Associated Press report said.

At least 12 others were injured in the explosion at the Kleen Energy Systems plant in Middletown, some 32 kilometers 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 Monday morning, he said.

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 set up several tents alongside the site.

The explosion occurred Sunday morning, Santostefano said. Mayor Sebastian Giuliano heard the blast.

Santostefano said 50 to 60 people were in the area at the time of the explosion, and multiple contractors were working on the project, making it difficult to quickly account for everyone.

The 620-megawatt plant, which was almost complete, is being built to produce energy primarily using natural gas.

The thundering blast shook houses for mile

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