- Five people have died after an explosion and fire at a Jersey apartment tower.
- Twelve persons are missing.
- The search for bodies “will take weeks, not days,” officials said.
Five people have died after an explosion and fire at a Jersey apartment tower, up from three.
Twelve persons are missing.
The search for bodies “will take weeks, not days,” officials said Sunday.
The search for survivors is over, police chief Robin Smith said.
Mr. Smith said those missing had died “We’re now in recovery [phase]. Tragically, this is inevitable.”
The hunt for explosive debris will be “careful and cautious,” he said.
Firefighters, rescue crews, and dogs searched the St. Helier building overnight for survivors.
Mr. Smith said teams are “working with all services, including health and safety, to establish what happened.”
Jersey’s fire chief said: “A building exploded and fell, so something’s amiss. And wrong.”
“We’re all devastated that Islanders have died and that families and loved ones are suffering,” Mr. Brown said.
Family liaison officers are working with those affected by the blast, and authorities say they’ve contacted all next of kin, although victims haven’t been publicly identified.
Jersey official video footage revealed piles of rubble, smashed cars, and blown-out glass at a nearby building.
Police called Haut du Mont on Pier Road “devastating.”
Mr. Smith claimed the tower block “totally fell” following the “very, very massive explosion.”
After the 4 am Saturday blast, 40 people are in a different housing.
Residents phoned the fire department at about 8.30 pm on Friday after smelling gas.
Chief fire officer Paul Brown said there are “many probable causes” for the “ferocious” explosion, but it’s too early to guess.
Residents moved to St Helier Town Hall, where they are assisted.
Dominic Raab, the deputy prime minister, said he was “very saddened” by the event and praised the emergency services’ reaction.
Last week, a skipper and two crew members died when their fishing boat collided with a freighter.
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