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A huge explosion has rocked a power plant in the US state of Connecticut, with US media reporting at least two people killed and many more injured.

People living several miles from the plant reported that their homes were shaken by the blast at the Kleen Energy plant, being built outside Middletown.

Black smoke could be seen pouring out of the plant site shortly afterwords.

A receptionist at nearby Middlesex Hospital told local media it was receiving victims from the explosion.

The Middletown Press newspaper said a gas pipeline had exploded at about 1130 (1630 GMT).

One local resident said the shock wave felt like an earthquake.

"We heard such a loud explosion and the dog was outside and I heard her bark. And then when we went outside we saw a very big explosion of bright orange flame between the two smoke stacks," she told the Associated Press news agency.

"It really shook the house and everybody was scared and the kids started to cry because they did not know if the house was going to catch fire."

Connecticut State Representative Matthew Lesser, who lives about the mile from the plant, told the BBC: "Our windows rattled, friends who live closer to the blast site report significant damage to houses."

He added: "I sit on the energy committee and we've been following the construction of this company," he said.

"As I understand it, they were testing a gas line when the explosion took place but we're not sure. Our first priority is making sure that everyone there is safe."

Hundreds of people are believed to have been working at the plant, located on the Connecticut river to the south of Middletown, at the time of the explosion.