At least five people have died as a result of the explosion and collapse of a residential building in the capital, Jersey, on the British island in the English Channel, police said.
“However, there are a large number of residents, we believe there are four we haven’t found yet,” said local police chief Robin Smith. According to police, the explosion occurred Saturday in the British island capital of Saint Helier, “probably” due to a gas leak.
Rescuers announced at noon on Sunday that there was little hope of finding survivors in the wreckage. “I confirm with regret that our search and rescue operations are from now on to recover the bodies of the victims,” the local police chief said.
With the help of dogs and experts from the south of England, Jersey firefighters spent Saturday night digging through the rubble. “The work to clear the rubble will take weeks, not days,” he said.
Kristina Moore, the prime minister of this British territory, like many other residents, said she was awakened in the night by the sound of an explosion.
“We are absolutely devastated and very worried about those affected and those who lost their lives,” Moore told the BBC.
Jersey’s gas supplier, Island Energy, said it was working with firefighters to find out what caused the explosion.
Police officers questioned several residents on Sunday to understand what had happened.
Some neighbors called the fire department a few hours before the explosion on Friday night, reporting a strong smell of gas and “possibly” causing the explosion, Smith said.
“Given that there was an explosion in a building and the building collapsed, it’s clear something went wrong,” said local fire chief Paul Brown.
source: Noticias
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.