At least three people have sadly died and around a dozen people are believed to still be missing after an explosion in an apartment building in Jersey, reported by police.
The explosion happened at around 4am on Saturday 10th December, less than eight hours after firefighters had been called to the site after concerns from residents, it was confirmed.
Reports from police said that the site remained “highly unsafe” with “pockets of fire” discovered hours after the “very, very significant” explosion.
In a press conference on Saturday afternoon alongside the head of the fire, police and ambulance services, the island’s chief minister Kristina Moore announced at least three people had died, with a search and rescue operation to find more people continuing all day and all through the night into Sunday. Specialist equipment is being used to find anyone trapped in the rubble, according to the police, assisted by an urban search-and-rescue team from southern England.
Kristina Moore said it was an “unimaginable tragedy” for the Channel Island. “This is going to take some days and we will keep everyone updated and fully informed, and we will do our very best to ensure everybody is properly looked after.”
Chief Fire Officer Paul Brown said the death toll remains unchanged with three confirmed fatalities, but authorities expect “to find more [bodies].”
Brown also said the causes of the explosion are still under investigation, but “something has clearly gone wrong because a building has exploded and collapsed.”
Officers said relatives are being contacted and the fire has now been extinguished.
