KILLER BLAST
Jersey explosion: 5 confirmed dead with 4 still missing amid fears no one survived massive ‘gas’ blast in flats
FIVE people have tonight been confirmed dead with four still missing after a massive blast destroyed a block of flats in Jersey.
The explosion ripped through the building in St Helier - with police fearing no one survived.
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Emergency services had desperately searched the scene for 24 hours - but the rescue operation became a "recovery" mission as cops confirmed no one survived.
Three bodies had already been recovered, but police yesterday evening confirmed a further two bodies had been found - taking the death toll to five.
Police say four people are still unaccounted for.
Emergency services had frantically worked through the night after the "devastating" explosion occurred just before 4am on Saturday.
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But Robin Smith, chief of police, announced yesterday: "It is with sadness that I am confirming that the search and rescue operation had been moved to a recovery operation.
"The decision was made after a detailed assessment and following the use of specialist K9 units."
At a press conference, Smith added that the families of the victims were being supported.
He said: "We have moved to a recovery stage, it's a moment to think about the families.
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"We have deployed family liaison officers to the families, it's utterly important we are sensitive to their emotions as we begin a meticulous and painstaking search of the debris following the explosion."
He added: "We are not going to be here for days, we are going to be here for weeks and it's important I make that clear.
"It is not going to happen quickly, it's going to happen carefully and sensitively."
Smith confirmed earlier that the official death toll was expected to rise, adding: "Previously we have said in the region of a dozen but it's difficult to make that assessment.
"That's the number we hope we do not get to but that is the number we are working to."
Police said yesterday evening that the number of people "confirmed to have been killed in the blast is now five".
They added: "There are still a number of residents, we are working on the assumption of four, that remain unaccounted for."
'LIKELY' A GAS EXPLOSION
Officers cordoned off a large part of St Helier after the explosion, with cops urging people to stay away from the debris-strewn area surrounding Mount Bingham.
The blast was so powerful it was picked up on the British Geological Survey’s earthquake monitors.
The ear-piercing sound was heard across the island with a large plume of smoke seen billowing from the area.
Shattered glass was seen scattered across nearby streets as the force of the blast blew out the windows from surrounding buildings.
A crumpled crane could also be seen near the smouldering remains of the three-storey building that had completely collapsed.
Just hours before the blast the fire service was called to the area, following reports that residents were smelling gas.
Smith confirmed it "looks likely" that the blast was a gas explosion but currently they "do not know".
Addressing questions about whether their working assumption is a gas explosion, he said: "You look at the pictures and I'm no expert, I look to the left (the fire chief) for the expertise who can say it looks likely that that is the case.
";But, of course, as you often hear the police service saying, we keep all our options open. That seems likely but we do not know is the simple answer."
Paul Brown, Jersey chief fire officer, acknowledged that something has gone "horribly wrong" after the fatal explosion.
Speaking at Sunday morning's press conference, he said: "Something clearly has gone wrong as a building has exploded and collapsed."
Mr Brown told reporters that the fire service will be "co-operating fully" with "honesty" and "transparency", but the main focus is currently the search operation.
Meanwhile, residents described how the massive explosion "sounded like an earthquake".
'SHOOK THE HOUSE'
Melody Wiseman, 27, who lives in a fifth-floor flat across the harbour was woken by the noise and shaking of the fearsome explosion.
She said: "I was woken up by this massive, massive bang and the whole flat was just shaking, I was freaking out, I had no idea what was happening.
"I held onto the bed because the flat was shaking so much. There is a new block of flats being built next door and I was worried it was falling down, or it could have been an earthquake, it sounded that loud.
"I was too shaken up to go to the window and look out.
"If I had gone on the balcony I'd have seen a lot of flames, so I'm glad I didn't as I can't get the noise of it out of my head, I'm still freaked out by it."
Meanwhile, Byron Hatton questioned whether "a car had crashed into the house" at their home just outside Bingham Court.
He said: "The first bang was absolutely massive, it shook the house. Then there were two smaller explosions. It woke everyone in the area up.
"Pier Road was absolute carnage, there was ash and debris everywhere but we couldn't get any closer."
And local Janice Byrne, who lives in flats opposite, said: "I was nearly thrown out of my bed by an explosion.
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"It was terrifying. There was a massive bang and the building shook."
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