About a dozen missing in ‘devastating blast’

One person has died after an explosion at a block of flats in Jersey.

About 12 people are missing and two are being treated in hospital after the explosion on Pier Road in St Helier just before 04:00 GMT.

Searches are under way and Chief of Police Robin Smith said he expected it to take “a number of days”.

“It is a pretty devastating scene… the scene is a very dangerous one for all of our staff,” he said.

He said: “I don’t know the exact number of the flats destroyed, but we have a three storey building that has completely collapsed.

“Described as, from a demolition point of view, probably as a pancake that has just dropped almost sort of straight down.”

Mr Smith confirmed the fire service had attended the scene on Friday night after the smell of gas was reported.

Emergency services said a fire caused by the explosion had been extinguished and the police force said it was using specialist resources to find “anybody trapped in the rubble”.

Anthony Abbott said the flat he shares with his wife was severely damaged by the explosion.

He said: “We heard an explosion at about four o’clock this morning, we got up and we found it [debris] in the flat, all the windows had been put in, the staircase had been damaged and there was fire everywhere outside.

“It was very, very distressing.

“There was young children in the flat, we helped them out and we got them down… the housing and everyone’s been very good to us at the moment… helping us.”

Mr Abbott added: “I’m a little bit shocked but we are lucky we’re OK.”

One resident described being woken up by what she thought was an earthquake at about 03:50.

“The bed started to shake and there was this massive bang,” she said.

“I checked online for news about an earthquake or lightning, I had no idea what it was.”

Luis, who was rescued from his flat with his nephew, said his doors and windows were “blown off” by the explosion.

He said he felt “pretty shaken up but OK, it’s traumatising that is”.

The government has repurposed its Covid helpline for those who need support following the incident.

BBC Jersey reporter Chris Craddock, who was near the scene earlier, said: “You could see glass, you could see rocks, you could see stones strewn across the area both on the pavement and on the road.

“Police have cordoned off the area and are diverting traffic.”

Chief Minister Kristina Moore said the island had seen “what amazing strength we have within our emergency services”, with 21 police officers, nine paramedics and 19 firefighters deployed to the scene.

“I wanted to offer my heartfelt thanks this morning to all of the emergency services who have attended,” she said.

“Everybody wants to help, we’re really grateful for support.”

Ms Moore said it had already been “a difficult week for islanders”, after the captain and two crew members of a fishing boat went missing following a collision with a Condor ferry on Thursday.

The Government of Jersey has asked islanders not to go to the Emergency Department “unless absolutely necessary”.

About 20 to 30 people are being cared for at St Helier Town Hall.

The States owned housing company Andium Homes is responsible for the flats, and said its “focus at the moment is on supporting our residents on that estate”.

Island Energy said it was working with the fire service to “understand exactly what has happened”.

Pier Road, Pier Road car park and South Hill have been cordoned off.

The police have asked people to avoid the area and Fort Regent has said it is closed.

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