No survivors in Jersey building blast; rescue mission now a recovery operation

Police said at least five people were confirmed killed in the explosion on Saturday in the Channel island’s port capital St Helier following a suspected gas leak

‘There are a number of residents, we’re working on the assumption of four, that are unaccounted for,’ St Helier’s police chief said

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An emergency worker at the scene of an explosion and fire at a block of flats in St Helier, Jersey, Channel Islands on Sunday. Photo: Government of Jersey / EPA-EFE

Published: 4:16am, 12 Dec 2022

Rescuers in Jersey on Sunday gave up hope of finding survivors from an explosion that flattened a three-storey block of flats, confirming five deaths, and another four people thought to be lying under rubble.

Police said at least five people were confirmed killed in the blast early Saturday in the Channel island’s port capital St Helier, following a suspected gas leak.

“The number of islanders confirmed to have been killed in the blast is now five,” said police chief Robin Smith after earlier giving a provisionally tally of three dead and around 12 more unaccounted for.

“There are a number of residents, we’re working on the assumption of four, that are unaccounted for,” Smith said in a statement after confirming the search-and-rescue operation had been moved to a recovery operation.

The scene of an explosion and fire at a block of flats in St Helier, Jersey, Channel Islands on Sunday. Photo: PA via AP

The next phase would involve a “meticulous and painstaking search of the debris” which could take over the coming weeks.