Jersey explosion: Search enters third day after flats blast

The search paused for a minute's silence as harbour workers looked across the scene

Emergency services are continuing a search and recovery operation after an explosion at flats in Jersey.

Jersey police said at least five people were known to have died, with four still missing. They warned they did not expect to find survivors.

The explosion happened at the three-storey Haut du Mont residential block on Saturday at about 04:00 GMT.

The chief minister said "the past week has been one of the most difficult for our island community in recent memory".

The explosion came just two days after three local fishermen went missing after a crash between their fishing boat and a ferry.

A minute's silence was held at 11:00 on Monday.

• Islanders in shock after two tragic events

The Government of Jersey said flags would be flown at half-mast until sunset on Friday 23 December.

Specialist teams from the UK have joined the rescue effort

It is understood there were nine residents in the block of flats but details on visitors remain unknown and authorities said the recovery may take weeks to complete.

Commercial Buildings and Mount Bingham have reopened but other roads in the area remain closed.

Among those observing the silence were government officials, shop workers and police officers.

Near the scene of the explosion, workers from St Helier harbour wearing orange overalls bowed their heads and paid their respects as the search paused for 60 seconds.

Books of condolence are being made available at parish and public halls to allow people to pay their respects to those affected by the explosion and also the fishing trawler that sunk.

Skipper of the L'Ecume II Michael Michieli, and crewmen Larry Simyunn and Jervis Baligat, remain missing.

Islanders observed a minute's silence at 11:00

Chief Minister Kristina Moore, speaking in the States of Jersey Assembly, said: "One tragic incident is enough to shake a small community.

"To have a second within a matter of days is not something we have ever experienced."

She paid tribute to the "care, compassion and community spirit of islanders" saying it was "a light in these dark times".

She also said "we must regrettably be prepared for more bad news in the coming hours and days".

Flowers and tributes relating to both tragedies may be left on the steps of Ordnance Yard to the side of the Jersey Museum, the Bailiff Sir Timothy Le Cocq said.

'Pulling together'

A vigil is planned at Town Church on Wednesday evening.

Some charities are taking donations for people who have lost their housing.

John Refault is organising a collection at the shop of brain injury charity Headway Jersey in St Helier.

"A couple of ladies came down with complete car loads, including bedding, it wasn't just clothing," he said.

"It was nice to see an immediate reaction from the people of Jersey. One thing Jersey is good at, is pulling together when there are these type of situations."

He added: "The people that have been evicted from their homes will have lost so much and will probably not have the monies to be able to go and replace all of that, so the more we as the public of Jersey can do to support them, the better."

The flats at Haut De Mont are shown as they appeared following the explosion and as they were prior to the blast

Hooray Henri cafe stall has been offering free food and drinks to staff working at the site, and the Salvation Army is also offering support.

Chief of Police Robin Smith said there had been a "meticulous and painstaking search of the debris following the explosion, to start carefully identifying bodies when and if we find them".

He told a press conference on Sunday: "That will take time. We are not going to be here for days, we are likely to be here for weeks."

The fire service had attended the flats just after 20:30 on Friday after the smell of gas was reported, it has been confirmed.

None of the emergency services leaders could confirm the cause, but Mr Smith said it "looks likely" it was down to a gas explosion.

Jersey chief fire officer Paul Brown acknowledged that something had gone "horribly wrong" at the block of flats.

He said the fire service would be "co-operating fully" with "honesty and transparency" with a future inquiry, but added that the main focus remained on the search operation at this time.

Jo Cox, chief executive officer of gas supplier Island Energy, said in a statement released on Monday afternoon: "Along with my colleagues at Island Energy, I join everyone in Jersey in offering our prayers and thoughts to families who have lost loved ones at this tragic time."

She said the firm was continuing to work with emergency services on the recovery operation.

Ms Cox said: "The company will conduct its own investigation into what happened, as well as helping the various official enquiries."

She said engineers were safety-testing the island's gas network, which would be completed in the next few days, and that "no issues had been detected" in the survey so far.

Jo Cox from Island Energy spoke to reporters on Monday afternoon

Speaking at a press conference Ms Cox said the flats had not been on the gas network.

She said an Island Energy engineer attended with the fire service on Friday night to investigate reports of the smell of gas and followed standard procedures.

Ms Cox said the engineer is yet to be interviewed and recordings of calls from residents are yet to be reviewed.

She it was too early to say if there had definitely been a gas explosion, but it was the most likely cause.

'Devastating'

Police said about 40 people had been displaced because of the blast and the damage it had caused to nearby buildings.

Many have been moved to tower blocks around the capital, not knowing how long for, or if they will ever be able to return home.

Some residents moved from properties on nearby North Quay Parade have returned to their homes after the police cordon was reduced on Monday.

Andy Rawlinson, 54, was among them and said his building was damaged by the blast, with windows smashed and debris across the doorstep.

He said: "It's scary, it's traumatic as well. It's horrible being a few hundred yards away from where people are dying and there's not a thing you can do.

"People have lost their lives so close to Christmas, it's so so sad. I've never seen anything like that here. It's devastating."

One woman who left flowers in tribute on the steps of Ordnance Yard said: "It hasn't sunk in, no - it will take a while but I think most of those families that have lost the loved ones, it won't be Christmas, ever again."

People left Christmas wreaths as well as bouquets on the steps of Ordnance Yard

An appeal has been set up to provide support for those affected by both the explosion and the fishing boat incident.

Specialist teams from the UK, including the Isle of Wight and Hampshire, and Guernsey have been drafted in to aid the response to the explosion.

Mr Brown said mutual aid would support the numbers of firefighters on the island to ensure a "rolling pattern of deployment" at the scene.

Mr Smith said the response to the tragedy was "as big as it gets".

"We all practice for these things and hope they never happen," the police chief said.

Andium Homes, a state-owned but independent company which rents out thousands of properties on the island, said it was focused on supporting residents at the estate.

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