Jersey apartment explosion: 73-year-old woman becomes 10th confirmed death | UK News

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A tenth person has been confirmed dead following an explosion in an apartment building in Jersey earlier in December.

Jersey Police said Kathleen ‘Cathy’ McGuinness, 73, who lived in a nearby building and was injured in the blast, died in hospital on Christmas Day.

The explosion occurred at the three-story Haut du Mont building on Pier Road in the Channel Island capital at about 4 a.m. on Saturday, December 10. It is understood that there are six apartments in the building.

Robin Smith, Chief Constable of Jersey, said: “I am in the very sad position of confirming yet another fatality linked to the Haute du Mont.

“Kathleen (Kathy) McGuinness, 73, who lived in Hauts du Mont in a building adjacent to the one that collapsed, died at Jersey General Hospital on Christmas Day.”

She is admitted to hospital following the incident on Pier Road and her family is supported by specially trained Police Family Liaison Officers.

Officer Smith added: “This incident has been very difficult for everyone involved and I would like to commend the families for their resilience in the face of such tragic circumstances.

“The island is right behind them and within easy reach, but first and foremost we are there together to give them their privacy and time to grieve.”

There is still a missing number

Earlier in December, police confirmed an unaccounted-for man was found dead under the rubble, making him the ninth victim.

But a number of people are still missing.

Prior to that, officials had named missing persons as Peter Bowler, 72, Raymond Brown, 71, Romeo and Louise de Almeida, 67 and 64, Derek and Sylvia Ellis, 61 and 73, Billy Marsden, 63, as well as Kane and Jane Ralph. And 72 and 71.

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0:35 Explosion moment in Jersey

On December 11, the emergency services announced that they were no longer searching for survivors.

The cause has yet to be confirmed, with Jersey Fire Chief Paul Brown previously saying there were “many different possible causes” and that it was too early to speculate.

In the hours leading up to the explosion, firefighters were called to the building after residents reported smelling gas and a leak was said to be a “probable” cause.

PHOTO: Emergency personnel at the scene of an explosion and fire in an apartment building in St Helier, Jersey.

However, the chief executive of Island Energy, which supplies gas to the Channel Islands, said the affected flats were not connected to the gas network.

An independent investigation is now underway with the island’s fire service.

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