One person has died and around a dozen people are missing after a huge explosion rocked a block of flats this morning.
Robin Smith, chief officer at States of Jersey Police, said the force received reports of a "large explosion" at around 4am on Saturday December 10 at a block of flats in Pier Road, St Helier.
He said one person had died and two people, whom he described as "walking wounded", were taken to hospital.
Mr Smith said: "There are of course a number of other people that are unaccounted for and therefore a search and rescue operation has commenced."
He said Jersey Fire and Rescue Service were liaising with Hampshire Fire and Rescue to help with the search.
It is believed between 20 and 30 people evacuated from the area had been taken to St Helier Town Hall.
An islander has told how firefighters pulled him and his wife from their home.
Mr Gomes told the Jersey Evening Post: "The fire brigade were called last night at 9pm because it smelt of gas.
"We live on the road in front of where the explosion was. The whole house is destroyed, the windows and doors got blown off. We woke up to the explosion and we couldn’t move because there was too much smoke.
"The fire brigade had to pull us out, we were worried and scared.
"Andium have already sorted us some accommodation. We saw about six flats and three floors all completely collapsed."
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