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'About five missing' in US blast 'All accounted for' in US blast
(about 16 hours later)
About five people remain unaccounted for after a huge explosion at a power plant in the US state of Connecticut, a fire official has said. No further victims of the explosion at a power plant in the US state of Connecticut are believed to be buried under the rubble, officials have said.
Middletown deputy fire marshal Al Santostefano said nearly 100 workers had been at the unfinished power plant on Sunday at the time of the explosion. The mayor and the deputy fire chief of Middletown said everyone assigned to work at the plant on Sunday had been accounted for.
Five people were killed and at least 12 others injured by the explosion. Five people were killed and at least 12 injured in the powerful explosion.
A damaged section of the plant was currently too unstable to be searched for survivors, Mr Santostefano said. Sunday's blast, which was felt miles away, happened as workers were testing gas lines at the unfinished facility.
He said it was unclear whether those unaccounted for were missing in the accident or had made it away from the plant and not yet been contacted by authorities.
Officials are unsure how many people were at the plant because a number of different contractors had workers on the site.
But Mr Santostefano said interviews with survivors, contractors and labour union officials indicated there had been nearly 100 people at the facility.
Federal investigation
Officials said the blast had been at 1117 local time (1617 GMT) as workers were testing gas lines.
The Kleen Energy plant was due to open later this year. It is meant to provide electricity by burning gas.The Kleen Energy plant was due to open later this year. It is meant to provide electricity by burning gas.
State and federal inspectors are due to start an investigation into the explosion later on Monday. Earlier on Monday, Middletown deputy fire marshal Al Santostefano said there were five people unaccounted for from nearly 100 workers believed to have been at the plant at the time of the explosion - 1117 local time (1617 GMT).
He said it was unclear exactly how many people were on the site because a number of contractors were working and there was no roster kept of arrivals and departures.
Police interviewed workers, contractors and labour union officials to determine who was present at the plant when the explosion happened, Mr Santostefano said.
Investigation
The force of the blast threw some workers into the air and broke windows in nearby residential areas.
People living up to 50km (30 miles) away said their homes had been shaken by the blast at the plant, being built south of Middletown, on the Connecticut River.People living up to 50km (30 miles) away said their homes had been shaken by the blast at the plant, being built south of Middletown, on the Connecticut River.
Some people said they had thought an earthquake had hit the region. Some people said they thought an earthquake had hit the region.
It took at least 100 firefighters an hour to contain the fire started by the explosion. About 100 firefighters took an hour to contain the fire started by the explosion.
The search for survivors trapped inside the plant was called off early on Monday as one badly-damaged section was too unstable to enter.
Two federal agencies - the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the Chemical Safety Board - were beginning investigations into the explosion on Monday.
Local officials have said the explosion happened as gas lines at the $1bn (£640m) facility were being tested.
There have been reports of a gas leak and that the gas lines were being purged of air at the time of the blast.