Five people have died following an explosion in a block of flats in Jersey, police have said.
Firefighters were called to the block in St Helier just after 8.30pm on Friday when occupants smelled gas, and it was allegedly deemed safe before the explosion nine hours later.
Jersey Police this evening confirmed that the death toll has increased to five from three, and that four remain unaccounted for.
Earlier today, emergency services said they were now treating the scene as a "recovery operation" rather than search and rescue.
A Jersey Police spokesperson said: "Operations at the Haut du Mont site on Pier Road continue as a search and recovery.
"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).
"The number of Islanders confirmed to have been killed in the blast is now five. There are still a number of residents, we are working on the assumption of four, that remain unaccounted for. Their families were made aware of this announcement before other Islanders. They continue to be supported by special officers.
"Our equipment and K9s have identified several areas of focus where possible bodies may be located. We continue to search these locations."
Earlier today, a spokesperson for Jersey Fire and Rescue said: "The police cordon around the Haut du Mont site will remain in place for the rest of today (Sunday, 11 December).
"Work is continuing in order to assess the situation and determine when it is safe to remove the outer cordon.
"For the time being Commercial Buildings, Pier Road and Fort Regent remain closed.
"We’ll provide further updates as soon as we can. In the meantime, we’d like to thank members of the public for not calling the Emergency Control Room unless it’s an emergency."
Gas supplier Island Energy said it was working with the fire service to "understand exactly what has happened".
Firefighters and specialist rescue teams, including a dog, were pictured at the scene late into Saturday night.
The footage captured some of the devastation and debris behind the cordon - including piles of rubble, crushed cars and a blown out window in the neighbouring building..
Gas supplier Island Energy said it was working with the fire service to "understand exactly what has happened".
Residents of the flats have been moved to St Helier Town Hall, where they are being supported.
A candlelit vigil was held for those affected by the tragedy at the nearby Parish Church of St Helier on Saturday night, and a note had been left on a noticeboard reading "give strength to those families who've been lost this week".
Associate Rector James Porter said the incident had had a "profound" impact on the community, particularly because it came days after three fishermen went missing at sea off the west coast of Jersey.
Speaking at the church, Mr Porter, 48, told the PA news agency: "The church here is right in the heart of the town and just a few hundred metres down from where the tragedy happened.
"This has affected the community in a profound way.
"It's a very small community in Jersey, and lots of people know lots of people, so there are lots of links.
"I think following on from the tragedy with the lost fishermen earlier in the week as well, it's been hard for people to digest."
L'Ecume II - an 18-metre wooden fishing vessel - sank five miles west of Jersey after colliding with the freight ship Commodore Goodwill at around 5.30am on Thursday.
Searches for the three men on board, including the captain who has been named in reports as Michael "Mick" Michieli, were called off at sunset on Friday.
