Witness in CT power plant explosion says there are “bodies everywhere”

At least a hundred people have been injured, and at least two have been confirmed dead in an explosion at a power plant in Middletown, Connecticut.

The blast, believed to have involved natural gas, was so strong that residents ten miles awake mistook it for an earthquake. A witness says the explosion occurred during a test when workers powered on energy generating systems. At least 50 construction workers, possibly as many as 100, were on site when the blast occurred at around 11am EST at the Kleen Energy Systems plant in Middletown.

Witnesses and authorities describe a chaotic scene to the Hartford Courant:

“There are bodies everywhere,” a witness said. Another witness said many victims may be buried in rubble.

Middletown deputy fire marshal Al Santostefano said at 1:15 p.m. there were “confirmed fatalities” but that he did not know who many. He said there were at least 50 construction workers on the site.

“It was a massive explosion” he said.

Search and rescue teams are said to be searching buildings on the site, which are reported to have been “leveled.”