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Five people have now been confirmed to have died following a huge explosion that destroyed a building in Jersey, after rescuers said they expected to find more bodies.
Jersey Police Chief Robin Smith warned it would likely take specialist teams ‘weeks’ to complete their ‘meticulous and painstaking’ search of the rubble.
The force estimated that four other people are also likely to be recovered from the wreckage of the three-storey Haut du Mont residential block, which was destroyed in Saturday’s 4am blast.
Mr Smith said: ‘The number of islanders confirmed to have been killed in the blast is now at five.
“There are still a number of residents, we are working on the hypothesis of four, who remain missing.
“Their families were informed of this announcement before the other islanders. They continue to be supported by special officers.
He told a press conference earlier on Sunday that the research had moved into a “recovery stage”, which was expected to take “weeks”.
Mr Smith added that it ‘seems likely’ the blast was a gas explosion, but this has not been confirmed.
Chief Minister Kristina Moore told reporters the wider Jersey community had been “hugely shocked and saddened” by the incident and the government had been “overwhelmed” by their “offers of support”.
Jersey Fire Chief Paul Brown acknowledged that something had “gone horribly wrong” and that his department would “co-operate fully” and “transparently” with investigations into the cause of the blast.
Mr Brown confirmed earlier that firefighters were called to the building at 8.36pm on Friday and carried out investigations after residents reported the smell of gas – just hours before the explosion.
Teams of specialists from other parts of the UK, including the Isle of Wight and Hampshire, have been recruited to help with the response.
Andium Homes, a public but independent company that rents out thousands of properties on the island, said it was focused on supporting residents of the estate.
Gas supplier Island Energy said it was working with firefighters to “understand exactly what happened”.
What we know so far about the fatal explosion
Here’s what we know about the explosion in Jersey’s capital, St Helier, which left at least five people dead.
– Saint Helier
The South Coast region is one of Jersey’s 12 parishes, home to around 36,000 people and accounts for a third of the island’s total population.
Most Jersey government offices are located in St Helier.
– The Explosion
The explosion took place around 4am on Saturday, in the three-storey Haut Du Mont residential block owned by Andium Homes.
Jersey Police Chief Robin Smith said it “seems likely” the blast was a gas explosion, but currently they “don’t know”.
– The answer
Jersey emergency services were assisted by specialist teams from the UK, including Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
Dozens of rescuers attempted to locate people as part of a search and recovery operation.
Cranes are used to search the rubble and sniffer dogs scour the rubble.
On Sunday, police said the rescue mission had turned into a “recovery operation”, with about four other residents fearing death.
– The victims
The five people killed have not yet been named by the police, but their families have been notified.
– The reaction
Chief Minister Kristina Moore described the incident as a “huge shock” and an “unimaginable tragedy” for the Channel Island.
Justice Secretary and Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab tweeted: “I am deeply saddened by the incident in Jersey this morning and my thoughts are with everyone involved.”
“I salute the work of the emergency services that responded and we stand ready to provide support in any way we can.”
– Investigation
The States of Jersey Police said they would continue to investigate all circumstances surrounding the cause of the fatal blast.
The investigation is force-coordinated and involves firefighters and gas engineers working at the scene, which remain cordoned off.
Police said such examinations are expected to continue over the coming weeks.
Jersey Police Chief Robin Smith said on Sunday: ‘The police service is fiercely independent operationally, I am completely independent of anyone in relation to this investigation.
“We will be looking for experts who are also independent, as we would for any investigation where there are particular specialties, rest assured it will be an independent investigation.”
When asked if criminal activity was suspected, he replied: “We don’t rule anything out and we don’t rule anything out.”
– The impact on the community
The Associate Rector of St Helier Parish Church, James Porter, said the incident had a ‘profound’ impact on the community, particularly as it happened days after three fishermen went missing at sea off the west coast of Jersey.
Speaking at the church the day after a candlelight vigil was held for those affected by the blast, Mr Porter said: ‘It has deeply affected the community.
“It’s a very small community in Jersey, and a lot of people know a lot of people, so there are a lot of connections.
“I think following the tragedy with the lost fishermen earlier in the week as well, people have had a hard time digesting it.”
Mr Porter added that he was encouraged by the influx of donations and offers of help to St Helier, and that the church would be open to anyone in need.
A candlelight vigil was held for those affected by the tragedy at nearby St Helier Parish Church on Saturday evening, and a note had been left on a notice board reading ‘give strength to the families who have been lost this week”.
Associate Rector James Porter said the incident had a ‘profound’ impact on the community, particularly because it happened days after three fishermen went missing at sea off the west coast of Jersey .
Speaking at the church, Mr Porter, 48, said: ‘The church here is right in the heart of the town and a few hundred yards from where the tragedy happened.
“It deeply affected the community. It’s a very small community in Jersey, and a lot of people know a lot of people, so there are a lot of connections.
“I think following the tragedy with the lost fishermen earlier in the week as well, people have had a hard time digesting it.”
The Ecume II – an 18m wooden fishing boat – sank five miles west of Jersey after colliding with the freighter Commodore Goodwill at around 5.30am on Thursday.
The search for the three men on board, including the captain who was named in reports as Michael “Mick” Michieli, was called off as sundown Friday.
The Jersey flag will be flown at half-mast from official buildings on the island “as a mark of respect” for those affected by the blast, the Jersey government has said.
The flags will be lowered from 8 a.m. on Monday until sunset on December 23.
A minute’s silence will also be held at 11 a.m. on Monday to give islanders a moment to “reflect on the incidents that have resulted in fatalities”, the government said.
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