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DANVERS - The chemical plant blast that rocked the North Shore early yesterday destroyed several businesses in Danversport and damaged more than a dozen commercial buildings. The damage is estimated in the millions of dollars.

The chemical plant, CAI Inc., 126 Water St., was totally destroyed, according to fire Chief James Tutko. After the initial explosion, which was followed by smaller eruptions, the building burned for several hours.

Also damaged beyond repair were a bakery and pizza shop - Danversport Bakery and Danversport Pizza Factory - which shared a building on the corner of Bates and Water streets. The top of the building was blown off.

"They were totally destroyed," Tutko said.

Employees at the bakery were making Thanksgiving pies when the chemical plant blew just before 3 a.m. They ran from the building, which is located down an alley off Water Street.

"I almost had a heart attack," said Fernando Nevez of Peabody, who was one of four people working at the bakery. "It looked like an atomic bomb. ... Everything was destroyed. The whole place was destroyed."

Another building that was badly damaged is Executive Auto Repair, the gas station at 112 Water St.

"It's pretty well gone," said Tom Lamoly of Danvers, who owns the property and leases out the business. "They've got three walls ready to fall."

A gas station has been on that site for more than 70 years, Lamoly said. "This is one of the oldest fueling stations in the state," he said.

A main building at Liberty Marina, which is right next to the chemical plant, suffered "heavy damage," according to the fire chief. He said his crews were focusing on homes and had not assessed damage to boats.

Spared from serious damage was Eastern Propane, which has a plant across the street from the accident. The company has several 30,000 gallon propane tanks on site, according to Jeff Taylor, chief operating officer of Eastern Propane in New Hampshire, the parent company.

"Nothing happened to the tanks," he said. "The tanks are totally secure - it was a non-event for us."

Eastern Propane, however, had windows blown out and roof damage. This is the company's district office with about 30 employees. Several fuel delivery trucks were allowed to leave the plant early in the morning to make deliveries, Taylor said.

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