Connecticut power plant explosion

[Stan]

-- An explosion at a Connecticut power plant near Hartford has caused "mass casualties," authorities say.

[Amelia]

MSNBC.com

BREAKING NEWS

‘Huge’ explosion reported at Conn. power plant

Middletown police report multiple fatalities and injuries

msnbc.com news services

updated 9:57 a.m. PT, Sun., Feb. 7, 2010

MIDDLETOWN, Conn. - A large explosion at a power plant on Sunday has killed an unknown number of people and injured many others, officials report.

CNN, citing police officials, reported two people were dead.

Black smoke was seen billowing the Kleen Energy Systems plant, which was under construction along the banks of the Connecticut River, and helicopters were airlifting victims to area hospitals.

The explosion at around 11:30 a.m. could be heard from up to 10 miles away, and some mistook it for an earthquake.

Neighbors of the plant said as many as 100 employees may have been working there when the explosion took place, the Hartford Courant reported.

Authorities have yet to confirm injuries or damage.

Middletown police told NBC News that the explosion was 'huge' and there were multiple injuries and fatalities. The fire department said they were dispatching crews to the scene.

The explosion happened around 11:30 a.m.

Reached by phone by WVIT-TV, plant general manger Gordon Holk said he was en route to the plant, and did want to speculate on the number of injured. He said the plant is a 620 megawatt gas-fired power plant.

The Middletown Press said on its Web site ambulances and a helicopter were on the scene.

Middletown is south of the city of Hartford.

This is a breaking news story. Please check back for more information.

[Stan]

At least 2 dead in Connecticut power plant explosion

(CNN) -- At least two people were killed Sunday in an explosion at a Connecticut power plant, police said.

Two people have been confirmed dead, said Middletown, Connecticut, police Sgt. Chuck Jacobucci, but authorities expect the number to rise since they are still searching for people.

More than 100 emergency service units, including fire, police and emergency management, were responding, he said.

Middlesex Hospital in Middletown, about 15 miles from Hartford, Connecticut, said it was receiving patients from the blast, which occurred about 11:30 a.m. at the Kleen Power Plant.

CNN affiliate WTNH-TV cited reports that houses near the plant had been damaged by the blast. The station reported the explosion was felt in towns as far as 15 miles from Middletown.

WTNH.com coverage of Middletown explosion

The plant's general manager, Gordon Holk, confirmed the blast caused casualties, but wasn't sure how many. Fire and police officials in Middletown said there were "mass casualties," but no other details were immediately available.

The site is a 620-megawatt gas-fired power plant, according to Holk.

A local resident, Bernadette Nyland, told WTNH she was in her yard when the explosion occurred.

"They were doing the firing of the engines this morning and so something went wrong and it blew up and flames came shooting up almost as tall as that stack," she told the station

[Stan]

first it was mass casualties, now it is 2.

[olger]

You don't suppose that the media might have exaggerated their report???

[phkrause]

Wow scary, hope not to many are hurt or possibly have died.

pk