Jersey explosion: Another person confirmed dead, bringing toll to nine

No one else remains unaccounted for, say police

Rubble being cleared after the explosion and fire at a block of flats in St Helier, Jersey (Aaron Chown/PA) (PA Wire)

Another person has been confirmed dead following a huge explosion and fire that rocked the island of Jersey last Saturday, bringing the death toll to nine.

States of Jersey Police say they now believe all residents have been unaccounted for with no others missing.

Earlier this week those missing, feared dead, were identified as Peter Bowler, 72, Raymond (Raymie) Brown, 71, Romeu and Louise De Almeida, 67 and 64, Derek and Sylvia Ellis, 61 and 73, Billy Marsden, 63, and Ken and Jane Ralph, 72 and 71.

The victims’ families have been told and are being supported by family liaison officers, the force said.

Ken and Jane Ralph (Jersey Police) (PA Media)

In the first 24 hours after the blast, three people were confirmed dead and around a dozen were missing from the close-knit community.

Authorities suspect the cause of the explosion was gas, as residents reported smelling gas hours earlier, and fire crews visited the Haut du Mont block of flats, in Pier Road, St Helier.

Independent fire experts are investigating what caused the explosion.

The area is being treated as a crime scene, the Jersey Evening Post reports, as no property in the flats was connected to gas for cooking or heating.

Andium Homes, which ran and managed the block, has been moving its estate off gas to reduce its carbon footprint.

The search operation will continue until the site has been fully cleared, the emergency services say.

From left top clockwise: Raymond Brown, Romeu and Louise De Almeida, Billy Marsden, Peter Bowler and Derek and Sylvia Ellis (Jersey Police/PA)

Chief of Jersey Police Robin Smith said formal identifications of the victims had yet to be made. “The disaster victim identification process will be carefully considered and managed in a dignified and compassionate way.

“The thoughts of all of us at States of Jersey Police are with everyone affected, in particular those who lost loved ones in what has been a tragic incident for our Island and our community,” he said.

Specialist emergency services teams from the UK, including from Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, went to St Helier to help with the rescue operation.