8 June 2010 Last updated at 00:15 ET

Texas gas pipeline explosion kills worker, injures eight

An explosion in a natural gas pipeline in Texas has killed one worker and injured eight others, US media report.

Earlier reports said three people had been killed in the blast near Cleburne, 50 miles (80km) from Dallas.

Initial reports indicated the fire began when a construction team struck the pipeline, sending a huge fireball shooting into the sky.

Residents several miles away described hearing a loud rumbling, which they initially mistook for thunder.

Officials said they had to wait hours until the site was safe enough to search for the missing man, whose body has been found.

Hood County Emergency Management Coordinator, Brian Fine, said the worker's body was found some distance from the blast site.

All 13 other workers had been accounted for. Eight were injured and were taken to hospitals.

Enterprise Products Partners said it owned the 36-inch gas transportation pipeline, according to Reuters news agency.