MIDDLETOWN — The Associated Press is reporting that five people have died in an explosion at a power plant in Middletown several minutes ago.

An updated AP report said that according to officials, workers at a power plant under construction were purging natural gas lines when a powerful explosion blew off part of the building Sunday, killing five people and injuring at least 12.

Middletown Mayor Sebastian Giuliano confirmed the known deaths and injuries in a news conference on Sunday. A few hours later, deputy fire marshal Al Santostefano told the Associated Press that firefighters going through the debris believed there was nobody unaccounted for.

Santostefano said 50 construction workers were in the section of the power plant where the explosion happened at 11:17 a.m. He said he did not know what caused the explosion.

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