Three dead, several missing after explosion at residential building in Jersey
- A gas leak was suspected as the cause of the blast at a block of flats in the Channel island’s port capital St Helier on Saturday
- The fire was put out but emergency services were conducting ‘significant work’ at the scene and the rescue operation could take days, police said
Three people were killed and several others were missing after a “devastating” explosion on Saturday flattened a three-storey block of flats in Jersey, authorities said.
A gas leak was suspected as the cause of the blast at around 4am local time in the Channel island’s port capital St Helier.
Security camera footage showed a fireball engulfing the bayside building followed by thick smoke.
Nearby resident Anthony Abbott said his flat’s windows were smashed inward by the blast wave.
“It was very, very distressing”, he told the BBC. “I’m a little bit shocked, but we are lucky we’re OK.”
Jersey’s gas supplier, Island Energy, said it was working with the fire service to understand what happened.
The fire was put out but emergency services were conducting “significant work” at the scene, and the rescue operation could take days, police said.
Fire crews mobilised after residents reported smelling gas, Jersey police chief Robin Smith told reporters.
