Rescuers searching the scene of an explosion in Jersey in which five people have been confirmed dead said they “expect to find more” bodies, with around 12 residents still missing.
Robin Smith, chief of Jersey Police, said specialist teams will continue their “meticulous and painstaking search” of the area in St Helier and warned it is likely to be “weeks” before investigations are completed.
The force earlier said the mission was now a “recovery operation” for “around a dozen” missing people and they no longer expect to find anyone alive. In an update it said four more bodies are expected to be recovered.
A blast destroyed the three-storey Haut du Mont block at about 4am on Saturday.
Mr Smith told a press conference on Sunday: “We have moved to a recovery stage, it’s a moment to think about the families.
“We have deployed family liaison officers to the families, it’s utterly important we are sensitive to their emotions as we begin a meticulous and painstaking search of the debris following the explosion
.@JsyFire are on site coordinating a methodical and meticulous multi agency search effort. This involves a number of stages, including vacating the site for short periods to allow dogs to enter, and the careful movement of debris.
— Government of Jersey (@GovJersey) December 10, 2022
Further updates will be provided in the morning. pic.twitter.com/f1LkN1sWVN
“We are not going to be here for days, we are going to be here for weeks and it’s important I make that clear,” he added.
“It is not going to happen quickly, it’s going to happen carefully and sensitively.”
Specialist teams from other parts of the UK, including the Isle of Wight and Hampshire, have been drafted in to aid the response.
Jersey Fire and Rescue Service’s chief fire officer, Paul Brown, earlier confirmed firefighters had been called to the building at 8.36pm on Friday and had carried out investigations after residents reported smelling gas - just hours before the blast.
Chief Minister Kristina Moore said at least three people had been killed, describing the incident as an “unimaginable tragedy” for the Channel Island.
Andium Homes, a state-owned but independent company which rents out thousands of properties on the island, said it is focusing on supporting residents at the estate.
Gas supplier Island Energy said it was working with the fire service to “understand exactly what has happened”.
