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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Chiara Fiorillo

Seven people feared dead after Jersey flats blast named by police as four still missing

Seven of the nine people believed to have been killed in an explosion that destroyed a block of flats in Jersey have been named by the police.

Peter Bowler, 72, Raymond Brown, 71, Romeu de Almeida, 67 and Louise de Almeida, 64, Derek Ellis, 61, Sylvia Ellis, 73, and Billy Marsden, 63, are feared dead or missing, States of Jersey Police said.

The identities of the other Islanders will be released at a later date, the force added.

Four other people were still missing following the tragic explosion at the residential block on Pier Road, St Helier, on Saturday at 4am.

The cause of the explosion is still under investigation.

Peter Bowler was named by Jersey Police as one of the missing people (Jersey police)

Yesterday night, Jersey Police chief Robin Smith said the search and rescue operation was moved to a "recovery operation".

He added the search for bodies of people missing after the explosion "will take weeks, not days" and will be "meticulous and painstaking".

Firefighters and specialist rescue teams have been searching through the wreckage with police describing the scene as "utter devastation".

Raymond Brown is feared to have died (Jersey police)

It comes as Jersey's energy supplier announced it is carrying out safety testing of the entire island's gas supply.

Mr Smith said on Sunday that the "likely" cause was a gas leak - but Jo Cox, chief officer at Island Energy, said the flats affected were not connected to the gas network.

According to the Jersey Evening Post, a statement on Monday afternoon from Ms Cox said: "Island Energy continues to work alongside the emergency services as they continue their recovery operation.

Billy Marsden is also missing, police said (Jersey police)

"The company will conduct its own investigation into what happened, as well as helping the various official inquiries.

"Our engineers are safety-testing the island's gas network, and this will be completed in the next few days. No issues have been detected in the survey so far."

Residents on North Quay Parade, close to the site of the explosion, have begun returning to their homes after the police cordon was reduced.

Derek and Sylvia Ellis are feared dead or missing after the explosion (Jersey police)

Several buildings, including the homes of Andy Rawlinson, 54, and Steve McCherry, 60, have been damaged by the blast - with windows smashed and debris across their doorsteps.

Mr Rawlinson said he had been woken by the "almighty bang" of the explosion at 4am and he felt "traumatised" returning home, while Mr McCherry said the impact had thrown him from his bed.

A Jersey resident since 1979, Mr Rawlinson said: "It's scary, it's traumatic as well.

Romeu and Louise De Almeida are also missing (Jersey police)

"It's horrible being a few hundred yards away from where people are dying and there's not a thing you can do.

"People have lost their lives so close to Christmas, it's so so sad.

"I've never seen anything like that here. It's devastating."

Specialist rescue teams at the scene of an explosion in Jersey (PA)

During an address to Jersey's State Assembly, Chief Minister Kristina Moore said: "One tragic incident is enough to shake a small community.

"To have a second within a matter of days is not something we have ever experienced.

Specialist rescue teams at the scene of an explosion in Jersey (PA)

"The devastating explosion at Haut du Mont has shocked everyone in the Island and around the world.

"I'm sure Members will have seen the footage, which makes for painful viewing, and is unprecedented for Jersey in modern times.

"Put simply, most of us will have never seen anything like it."

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