At least three people have been killed in a block of flats after a major explosion and fire on the island of Jersey in the English Channel.
Jersey Prime Minister Kristina Moore (48) announced this at a press conference on Saturday evening after there had been one death and a dozen missing.
“Unimaginable Tragedy for the Island”
A search and rescue operation is underway for more people, Moore said. It was an “unimaginable tragedy” for the island. The cause of the explosion remained unclear on Saturday.
According to police, the blast occurred shortly before 4 a.m. on Saturday morning in Saint Helier, Jersey’s capital. Then a fire broke out. Police Chief Robin Smith spoke of a “protracted” incident that would last “days, maybe weeks”.
The three-story building collapsed completely. The exact number of apartments destroyed is not known, the police chief said.
Neighbors noticed a smell of gas
The fire service was called to the building on the Friday evening before the accident after local residents reported a smell of gas. However, the police chief left open whether this was related to the explosion.
According to rescuers, the fire has now been extinguished. 20 to 30 people were brought to safety. Now the rubble would be searched for those trapped.
Off the French coast lies the Channel Island of Jersey with over 100,000 inhabitants. It is not part of the United Kingdom, but as a so-called crown estate it is directly subordinate to the British royal family. (SDA/ced)