Ammon News - MIDDLETOWN, CONNECTICUT (BNO NEWS) — A large explosion rocked a power plant in the city of Middletown in Connecticut on Sunday, killing at least two people and injuring scores of others.

The natural gas explosion happened around 11.26 a.m. local time at the Kleen Energy Power Plant on River Road, a 620 megawatt gas-fired power plant which is currently under construction. A Middletown Police Department official said testing was ongoing at the plant at the time of the explosion, “but, obviously something went wrong,” he said. “A lot of mutual aid is coming in.”

Plant manager Gordon Holk confirmed at least two workers had been killed. He said crews were conducting gas blows, a practice used to clean pipelines. Holk said there were injuries, and said an unknown number of people are still unaccounted for. “A search and rescue of the rubble is underway,” he said.

The manager said the explosion caused damage to the construction site and nearby buildings. Holk said an investigation into the cause of the blast is underway.

Unconfirmed reports, which BNO News was not immediately able to verify with officials, suggested that as many as 100 people were injured.

WFSB-TV reported, citing sources, that at least 250 people were injured. Sky News, citing a local hospital, reported that up to 50 people had been killed. There was no immediate official confirmation.

The Middletown Fire Department said departments from all over the region are assisting local emergency responders, and hospitals in the area are put on stand by to receive casualties. The blast, which was felt as many as ten miles away, caused a fire which is now out.

Fire department officials are planning to hold a news conference before 3 p.m. EST.

(BNO)