By Gabrielle Tassone - February 8, 2010
Five people are dead, and at least a couple dozen injured as a result of a gas explosion at an under-construction power plant in Middletown,Connecticut, Sunday morning.
The blast occurred at Kleen Energy Systems plant around 11:30 a.m. according to authorities. Plant workers had been conducting a test to remove dust and debris from the gas pipes when the explosion blew apart the room and started a fire.
Though the plant is relatively isolated, residents of neighboring towns reported both hearing, and feeling the blast. Residents up to 20 miles away from the plant reported feeling the effects.
"It felt like shaking," Hope Kasper, a member of the Middletown Common Council said. "There was a loud noise, I don't think I've ever heard a noise that loud. The windows in my house actually shook."
There were no signs of terrorism or foul play, officials said. Middletown Mayor Sebastian Giuliano told the Globe there is no risk of either tainted water or air.
"There is no present or continuing threat to anybody from either substances getting into the atmosphere or of a possible subsequent explosion," he said.
It remains unknown as to how many people were working at the plant at the time of the explosion Sunday morning. Mayor Giuliano said "Each contractor has their own foreperson, their own employee list, so we're trying to sort that out."
Al Santostefano, deputy fire marshal told the Globe at least 50 workers were at the plant at the time of the blast. Project owners have reported that anywhere from 100 to 200 people were working on the site on any given day.
Investigators from Middletown police, State Police and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives began touring the scene yesterday, and are expected to continue the investigation today, according to the Globe.
Twenty- six patients from the explosion were sent to Middlesex Hospital in Middletown, with injuries ranging from "mild" to "very serious."
Kleen Energy Systems is one of the largest being built in New England. At the time of the explosion, it was about 95 percent completed.
