Five Now Confirmed Dead In Pier Road Explosion

The number of islanders confirmed to have been killed in the explosion at Haut du Mont flats has risen to five. The number of missing has been revised to four.

In a statement issued shortly before 6pm, Police Chief Robin Smith said that five people are now known to have died in the disaster.

He also said that the number of islanders unaccounted for is now presumed to be four.

"There are still a number of residents, we are working on the assumption of four, that remain unaccounted for."

The three-storey block was destroyed by the blast in the early hours of Saturday morning (10 December).

Specialist search teams of Jersey and UK firefighters continue to search the debris for bodies.

They worked throughout the night and announced early this morning that they did not expect to find any survivors.

Mr Smith said at a press conference earlier that the ongoing search would be 'meticulous and painstaking' and was likely to take weeks.

In this evening's update, he says search dogs have identified areas the teams are focusing on:

"Our equipment and K9s have identified several areas of focus where possible bodies may be located. We continue to search these locations."

"Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) strategies are in place and specialist officers continue to survey the scene alongside Fire and Ambulance Services and tactical advisors from Urban Search and Rescue (USAR)."

Specialist search dogs have been brought in from the UK. Credit GoJ

Addressing reporters earlier today, the Police and Fire Chiefs promised an 'honest and transparent' and 'independent' investigation into the cause of the blast.

Firefighters responded to reports of the smell of gas in the area at 8.36pm on Friday evening.

Asked if his working assumption was that it was a gas explosion, Robin Smith said:

"Who can say? It looks likely that is the case, but we keep all our options open. That seems likely, but we do not know is the simple answer."

Up to 30 people who have lost their homes in the explosion are being put up in temporary accommodation.

The Chief Minister and Housing Minister visited some of them earlier.

Reminded of the Simon and Garfunkel song ‘Bridge over troubled water’ as we head off to Le Marais to meet and listen to those displaced by the explosion on Pier road. Huge response from so many, ‘we’ll see you through’. pic.twitter.com/HJnDiiG4br

— David Warr (@WarrOnWords) December 11, 2022

The Bailiff has asked that flags be flown at half-mast from 8am on Monday 12 December, and that islanders observe a minute silence at 11am as a mark of respect for those who have lost their lives in this disaster and last week's collision at sea.