Explosion At Power Plant In Conn.

MIDDLETOWN, Conn. - A powerful gas explosion and fire at the Kleen Energy Systems plant in Middletown, Connecticut left at least five people dead. The town fire marshal says all the workers have been accounted for.

The earth-shaking explosion took place on Sunday at around 11:15 a.m. about 15 miles south of Hartford. The plant at 1349 River Road was under construction.

Company officials say workers were purging gas lines when the explosion occured. It is believed that about 100 workers were on the scene at the time.

Police are advising everyone to stay away from the area.

Witnesses say black smoke was visible for miles.  A witness directly across the Connecticut River in Portland told television station WTNH that workers were firing the engines at the plant when the explosion took place.  A huge ball of fire rose into the sky, followed by the plume of smoke.   The woman says the windows on her house were blown out by the concussion from the blast.

The Hartford Courant reported that state police, fire and explosive investigators rushed to the scene, as well as state police urban rescue crews who will be searching the rubble for victims.

Goldman Sachs provided $1.5 billion in construction financing for the project.

IMAGE OF PLANT