Jersey explosion: Rescuers continue search after ‘ferocious’ explosion at Jersey block of flats kills at least three

Emergency services have been working through the night after a “devastating” explosion at a three-storey tower block in Jersey left three people dead and “around a dozen” more missing.

The Jersey government tweeted a video of firefighters and specialist rescue teams, including a dog, on the scene in the Channel Island’s capital in St Helier on Saturday night.

The footage captured some of the devastation and debris behind the cordon – including piles of rubble, crushed cars and a blown out window in the neighbouring building.

The government said: “We’re on site coordinating a methodical and meticulous multi-agency search effort.

“This involves a number of stages, including vacating the site for short periods to allow dogs to enter, and the careful movement of debris.”

At a news conference on Saturday, police described the scene at Haut du Mont on Pier Road as one of “utter devastation”, telling journalists how the tower block had “completely collapsed” and “doesn’t even look like a building” after the “very, very significant explosion”.

The States of Jersey Police were called to the scene at 4am on Saturday, with one person pronounced dead and two others, described as “walking wounded”, taken to hospital.

They have since been discharged with a third person receiving treatment for non-serious injuries, medics said.

A blaze ignited by the explosion was initially believed to have been extinguished, with emergency services “carrying out significant work” at the scene.

However on Saturday afternoon police said “pockets of fire” were discovered, adding that the site remains “highly unsafe”.

The South West Hazardous Area Response Team, together with an urban search and rescue team from Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire & Rescue Service, were deployed to assist.

Cause of blast remains unknown

The fire service was called to the area at around 8.30pm on Friday night after residents reported smelling gas.

The cause of the explosion remains unknown, as emergency crews say their number one priority is to locate anyone who is alive in the rubble.

Robin Smith, chief officer at States of Jersey Police, said there are a “number of working hypotheses” but stressed it was important not to speculate.

A senior detective has been assigned to look into the incident, which could be a “criminal or joint investigation”, he said.

When asked about what could cause such a “ferocious” explosion, chief fire officer Paul Brown said there are “many different potential causes” but it is too early to speculate.

When pressed about whether the explosion happened near a mains gas supply, he replied: “We have been in dialogue with utility companies throughout the day.”

‘This isn’t going to finish today’

Mr Smith described the scene as one of “complete devastation”.

He said “significant progress” had been made thanks to a “co-ordinated effort” to deal with the tragedy, with the search for missing people continuing throughout the night.

But he warned the incident was “protracted” and would likely go on for “days, maybe weeks”.

“It is important we have the resilience to continue and keep going,” Mr Smith said, adding: “This isn’t going to finish today.”

Specially trained officers have been deployed to Jersey town hall to provide support to people affected by the incident, which will continue “way beyond” the search and rescue phase, Mr Smith said.

Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab tweeted that he was “deeply saddened” by the incident and commended the work of the emergency services response, adding: “We stand ready to support in any way we can.”