Breaking: Connecticut gas explosion at power plant 'leaves up to 50 dead

No word yet as to the cause of this disaster. Why is the UK first to report this tradegy?

A huge explosion at a US power plant on Sunday may have left up to 50 people dead, authorities said.
By Nick Allen in Los Angeles
Published: 6:57PM GMT 07 Feb 2010

There were fears up to 250 may have been injured in the blast at a gas-fired power plant in Connecticut.

Two people were confirmed dead last night but rescuers were continuing to comb the wreckage of the plant, which is owned by Kleen Energy Systems. At least four of the injured were in a critical condition.

“The reports vary from a few, several to possibly as many as 50 dead,” a Middlesex hospital spokesman, Brian Albert said. “They are in the process of search and rescue.”

The explosion at the plant on the Connecticut River in Middletown was felt 30 miles away and many people thought it was an earthquake. A huge grey plume of smoke rose into the sky overhead.

One witness said there were “bodies everywhere” and others said more victims could be buried in rubble.

More than 20 ambulances were scrambled to the scene and helicopters airlifted victims to hospitals.

The explosion was believed to have happened during a test of the 620 megawatt gas-fired power station’s generating systems. It was due to come online on June 1.

A natural gas pipeline was said to have exploded and flames were seen shooting out of it. The new plant would have been one of the largest in Connecticut and up to 1,000 people had been working on construction.

Regulatory issues and disputes with city administrators had held up construction for almost a decade.

Witnesses said homes were shaken and black smoke was seen for many miles after the explosion. One nearby resident said the blast made him think someone had driven a car into his house.

Worshippers at a nearby church service thought there had been an earthquake.

A witness looking at the destruction across the Connecticut River said the main plant building seemed to have been flattened.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/7...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/feb/07/gas-power-plant-...