The Jersey Explosion Police are now focusing on ‘Recovery’ rather than Rescue Jersey

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The police chief said Jersey emergency services were treating an explosion in an apartment building as a “rescue operation” rather than a search and rescue, and 12 people were still missing.

Three people were confirmed dead on Saturday after the explosion in the Hauts-du-Mont, Pierre Rud, in the capital Saint Helier.

Jersey Police Chief Robin Smith said Sunday morning: “It is with sadness that I confirm that the search and rescue operation has been transferred to Operation Rescue.

“The decision was made after a detailed evaluation and after the use of specialized K9 units.

“Disaster casualty identification strategies are in place, and dedicated officers survey the site using fire and ambulance services and tactical advisors from urban search and rescue.”

The explosion occurred around 4 a.m. on Saturday, less than eight hours after firefighters were called to the site due to concerns from residents.

Two people who were in hospital on Saturday have been discharged, and another person has been treated for non-critical injuries.

At a press conference at noon on Saturday alongside the chief of fire, police and ambulance services, the island’s chief minister, Christina Moore, said it had been an “unimaginable tragedy” for Channel Island.

“This will take a few days and we will keep everyone updated and do everything we can to ensure everyone is properly cared for,” she added.

Specialist equipment has been mobilized to find anyone trapped under the rubble, according to the police, with the help of an urban search and rescue team from southern England.

On Saturday Smith said the scene was “total devastation”.

Police said the site remained “largely unsafe”, with “pockets of fire” discovered hours after the “extremely serious” blast.

Chief Fire Officer Paul Brown added: “The primary challenge is the fact that we have a serious structure that has collapsed… Anything we do, or do the wrong way, could jeopardize anyone’s chance of survival and be rescued.”

The process will continue for “days, possibly weeks,” Smith said, adding that “it’s important to have the resources to keep going.”

Brown also revealed that firefighters were called to the site at 8.36pm on Friday, and an investigation was carried out.

Asked if that had anything to do with the explosion, he said: “I can confirm that fire and rescue workers did come. I don’t know exactly how many firefighters, but they did.

“I know they’ve done investigations, but I think at the moment what I’m focusing on is just emergency response.

“I’ll give you an answer to that but what I’d like to do at the moment is focus on emergency response, talk to my colleagues and look at the parts that are under investigation – and make sure I don’t tell you something I need to tell someone else first.”

Smith said it wouldn’t be helpful to speculate about what happened at this point. The cause of the explosion is still unknown.

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