5 killed, 12 injured in US plant explosion: mayor

• Source: Global Times
• [01:55 February 09 2010]
• Comments

At least five people were killed and 12 were injured Sunday in a gas explosion at a US power plant, according to preliminary figures, the local mayor said.

"We know that 12 individuals have been injured. Five individuals are known to have lost their lives," said Sebastian Giuliano, the mayor of Middletown in Connecticut.

However, officials cautioned that they did not yet know how many people were in the as-yet unfinished power plant, and therefore they could not im-mediately account for everyone who may have been present during the explosion.

The natural gas explosion was assumed to be the main cause of the incident that blew apart the power plant, and the possibility of a terrorist attack has been ruled out.

Giuliano said there could be anywhere from 100 to 200 people working at the site on any given day.

But the exact number working Sunday is what they haven't been able to confirm.

"Fortunately, what I was told is that most of the people working there were evacuated from the building when they ran the test," he said.

A further investigation is underway.

Some local houses reported damage similar to that inflicted by an earthquake.

The 620-megawatt Kleen Energy plant, said to be one of the largest power facilities to be planned in New England for many years, was still under construction.

The American Red Cross said it had set up a phone number for "anyone concerned for the well-being of a relative or a friend who was working at the Kleen Energy plant."

Agencies