‘Independent Experts’ To Investigate Explosion

Jersey's Fire Service wants to bring in independent experts to investigate the cause of the Haut du Mont explosion.

At a media briefing on Tuesday afternoon, the Chief Officers from Jersey's Fire & Rescue, Police and Ambulance teams gave islanders an update on the on ongoing search and recovery operations at Pier Road.

The Fire Service had attended the block of flats at 8:36pm on the evening before the blast, before handing over to the gas company Islands Energy at 9:01pm.

Chief Officer Paul Brown said it is wrong to speculate on what caused the explosion, and the investigation into what happened will be ‘complex and long’. 

"To my knowledge there are no other facts about Friday evening, and of course from my perspective at least, but I'm pretty sure its everybody else's its inappropriate for me to talk about anything else on the Friday evening.

The most appropriate place to do that is through the investigative process, because the only important thing here is the families, so the only important thing here is the truth."

He went on:

“At this stage, it is my intention to commission independent experts to investigate the cause of the fire and the explosion. 

Ordinarily the States of Jersey Fire & Rescue Service, like all fire and rescue services, investigate all fires -  we do this hundreds of times every year.

On this occasion we will commission independent investigators.”

The press conference followed the announcement made earlier that two more bodies have been found at the Haut Du Mont site, bringing the confirmed death toll to seven. It is  believed two residents are still unaccounted for.

So far, the bodies have not been identified and the police cannot confirm whether they are the people identified as missing by families.

Chief of Police Robin Smith says his thoughts continue to be with the families and friends.

"Our Disaster Victim Identification Process is detailed and very complex. It must be carefully considered and managed in a dignified and compassionate way."

The Chief of Police also asked that the privacy of the loved ones is respected.

The investigation is being led by Detective Superintendent Allison Fossey, the Head of Crime for States of Jersey Police.