http://www.aolnews.com/article/mass...ies-in-connecticut-power-plant-blast/19348085
'Mass Casualties' in Connecticut Power Plant BlastUpdated: 4 minutes ago
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Michelle Ruiz
Contributor
(Feb. 7) -- Authorities said a power plant explosion killed multiple people and injured at least 14 in the Hartford, Conn., suburb of Middletown Sunday.
"We had an explosion at our new Kleen power plant," Middletown Police Officer Kevin White told AOL News. "There were mass casualties."
Connecticut's Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security said multiple people died in the powerful explosion, but an exact number was difficult to determine as search and rescue continued, according to published reports.
There were conflicting reports as to the number injured, with many news outlets initially saying as many as 100 were hurt in the explosion, four critically. At least 14 were injured and are being treated at local hospitals, according to the Associated Press.
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There are reports of people trapped under collapsed parts of the plant. Middletown Deputy Fire Marshal Al Santostefano told CNN "there's a possibility that there could be someone still alive underneath the debris."
The gas explosion and fire occurred at apprcximately 11:17 am EST at the Kleen Energy Systems plant, a gas and oil plant under construction in Middletown. Authorities at the scene told Hartford's WTNH-TV that workers were doing a 'blow down' to clear gas from the lines when the explosion occurred.
"There are bodies everywhere," a witness told the Hartford Courant newspaper in the wake of the blast. Officials said there there were 50 construction workers inside the building at the time of the explosion.
White said the local fire department was working to put out the fire. Gov. Jodi Rell approved the use of the urban search and rescue team to assist in the search and rescue operations. Fire, police and emergency management personnel responded to the blast, with helicopters airlifting victims, according to Hartford's WTNH-TV, which also reported nearby homes were damaged.
Middletown resident Bernadette Nyland, who was in her yard when she heard the blast, told WTNH she saw "flames shooting up" in the direction of the plant. One Middletown woman who felt the boom described it via Twitter, saying, "First thought was earthquake or huge gust of wind--whole house shook, very brief but powerful."
'Mass Casualties' in Connecticut Power Plant BlastUpdated: 4 minutes ago
.Print Text Size E-mail More
Michelle Ruiz
Contributor
(Feb. 7) -- Authorities said a power plant explosion killed multiple people and injured at least 14 in the Hartford, Conn., suburb of Middletown Sunday.
"We had an explosion at our new Kleen power plant," Middletown Police Officer Kevin White told AOL News. "There were mass casualties."
Connecticut's Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security said multiple people died in the powerful explosion, but an exact number was difficult to determine as search and rescue continued, according to published reports.
There were conflicting reports as to the number injured, with many news outlets initially saying as many as 100 were hurt in the explosion, four critically. At least 14 were injured and are being treated at local hospitals, according to the Associated Press.
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There are reports of people trapped under collapsed parts of the plant. Middletown Deputy Fire Marshal Al Santostefano told CNN "there's a possibility that there could be someone still alive underneath the debris."
The gas explosion and fire occurred at apprcximately 11:17 am EST at the Kleen Energy Systems plant, a gas and oil plant under construction in Middletown. Authorities at the scene told Hartford's WTNH-TV that workers were doing a 'blow down' to clear gas from the lines when the explosion occurred.
"There are bodies everywhere," a witness told the Hartford Courant newspaper in the wake of the blast. Officials said there there were 50 construction workers inside the building at the time of the explosion.
White said the local fire department was working to put out the fire. Gov. Jodi Rell approved the use of the urban search and rescue team to assist in the search and rescue operations. Fire, police and emergency management personnel responded to the blast, with helicopters airlifting victims, according to Hartford's WTNH-TV, which also reported nearby homes were damaged.
Middletown resident Bernadette Nyland, who was in her yard when she heard the blast, told WTNH she saw "flames shooting up" in the direction of the plant. One Middletown woman who felt the boom described it via Twitter, saying, "First thought was earthquake or huge gust of wind--whole house shook, very brief but powerful."
