‘Huge’ explosion reported at Conn. power plant

[bijou]

MIDDLETOWN, Conn. - At least two people were killed in a large explosion at a gas power plant on Sunday, officials report.

CNN, citing police officials, reported at least two people were dead and the death toll was expected to rise.

Black smoke was seen billowing from the Kleen Energy Systems plant along the banks of the Connecticut River. ... http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35283135/ns/us_news/

[FlaGator]

This looks bad. These people are in my thoughts and prayers.

[megimoo]

'Mass Casualties' in Connecticut Power Plant Blast

(Feb. 7) -- Authorities said a power plant explosion has killed at least two people and injured 100 in the Hartford, Conn., suburb of Middletown Sunday. "We had an explosion at our new Kleen power plant," said Middletown Police Officer Kevin White. He told AOL News there are "mass casualties." White confirmed at least two people were dead. According to local CBS affiliate, WFSB-TV, 250 are injured. There are reports of people trapped under collapsed parts of the plant.



http://www.aolnews.com/article/mass-...cid=webmaildl1

[megimoo]

Authorities said a power plant explosion has killed at least two people and injured as many as 100 in the Hartford, Conn., suburb of Middletown Sunday.

asnip

White confirmed at least two people were dead. There were conflicting reports as to the number injured, with many news outlets saying as many as 100 were hurt in the explosion, four critically. Earlier, CBS affiliate WFSB-TV reported 250 injured. There are reports of people trapped under collapsed parts of the plant.

ambulances arrive at power plant blast in Middletown, Conn.
Richard Messina, Hartford Courant / AP
Ambulances arrive at the Kleen Energy Systems plant in Middletown, Conn., after Sunday's deadly explosion.
"There are bodies everywhere," a witness told the Hartford Courant newspaper. State police told the paper there were 50 workers inside the building at the time of the blast.

The gas explosion and fire occurred at around 11:30 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.

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.

http://www.aolnews.com/article/mass-...cid=webmaildl1

[djones520]

Mass casualties and multiple injuries were reported Sunday after a huge explosion at a Connecticut power plant, police confirmed to Fox News.

Al Santostefano, the deputy fire marshal in Middletown, told The Associated Press the explosion happened at 11:17 a.m. Sunday at the Kleen Energy Systems plant there and portions of the building blew away.

"There are bodies everywhere," a witness told the Hartford Courant.

Medical rescue personnel told the newspaper there were at least two fatalities, and at least 100 people injured — including four in critical condition. The paper also reported that as many as 20 ambulances were on the scene.

Santostefano said 50 workers were inside the building at the time of the explosion.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,585040,00.html

Still no report on the cause.

[megimoo]

Connecticut Gas Explosion At Power Plant 'Leaves Up To 50 Dead'

"A natural gas pipeline was said to have exploded and flames were seen shooting
out of it."

There were fears up to 250 may have been injured in the blast at a gas-fired power plant in Connecticut.

Two people were confirmed dead last night but rescuers were continuing to comb the wreckage of the plant, which is owned by Kleen Energy Systems. At least four of the injured were in a critical condition.“The reports vary from a few, several to possibly as many as 50 dead,” a Middlesex hospital spokesman, Brian Albert said. “They are in the process of search and rescue.”

The explosion at the plant on the Connecticut River in Middletown was felt 30 miles away and many people thought it was an earthquake. A huge grey plume of smoke rose into the sky overhead.One witness said there were “bodies everywhere” and others said more victims could be buried in rubble.More than 20 ambulances were scrambled to the scene and helicopters airlifted victims to hospitals.

The explosion was believed to have happened during a test of the 620 megawatt gas-fired power station’s generating systems. It was due to come online on June 1.A natural gas pipeline was said to have exploded and flames were seen shooting out of it. The new plant would have been one of the largest in Connecticut and up to 1,000 people had been working on construction.

Regulatory issues and disputes with city administrators had held up construction for almost a decade.



http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worl...o-50-dead.html

[Nubs]

Appears to me there could have been a logic failure that allowed the low fire pilots to ignite prior to the main restart air purge. This will fill the boiler burn chamber with gas the pilots ignited the gas filled boiler. The system went cold start/gas/pilots/boom. Proper sequence is cold start/purge/pilots/gas/controlled burn.

I witness this on a small package boiler (75k lb/hr 105psi). It shot flames out the 150 foot stack and blew off all the air intake manifolds. The square boiler turned out to be round.

[aerojarod]

I live about 5 miles from where this occurred. The Blast sounded like sonic boom. I heard the windows at a nearby mental hospital got blown out.

Reports this morning are 5 confirmed dead. They had to stop searching late last night until the stability of the rubble could be determined safe for the rescue crews.