2022 St Helier explosion
 Overview of St Helier from Pier Road, close to the site of the explosion | |
 | |
| Date | 10 December 2022 |
|---|---|
| Time | Just before 4 a.m. (GMT (UTC±0)) |
| Location | Pier Road, St Helier, Jersey |
| Coordinates | 49°10′42″N 2°06′30″W / 49.178362°N 2.108401°W |
| Type | Gas explosion (suspected) |
| Deaths | 7 |
| Non-fatal injuries | 3 |
| Missing | 4 |
On 10 December 2022, an explosion destroyed a block of flats in St Helier, Jersey. At least seven people were killed in the explosion which occurred just before 4 a.m. local time.
Background
The explosion occurred in a three-storey block of flats on Pier Road, which is located on the eastern shore of St Helier's harbour on the south side of the town. The building involved was a social housing block known as Haut de Mont (transl. Top of the Mount), owned by the Jersey government-owned housing company Andium Homes.[1]
The incident happened less than 48 hours after another multiple fatality in Jersey when a freight ship collided with and sunk a local trawler off the island's west coast with three lives lost.[2]
Explosion
Just before 4 a.m. GMT on 10 December 2022, a suspected gas explosion occurred in the Haut de Mont three-storey block of flats on Pier Road in St Helier, Jersey.[1] The explosion, which was caught on CCTV camera[3] caused the building to pancake-collapse, completely destroying it.[4] It was loud enough to be heard across the island, waking up local residents across St Helier who described it as feeling like an earthquake. The explosion caused a fire which sent a plume of smoke billowing across the town's harbour. The fire caused by the explosion was quickly extinguished by the Jersey Fire and Rescue Service, and specialist resources were deployed to stabilise the scene and attempt to reach any possible survivors in the rubble.[4]
More than 50 emergency services personnel were deployed to the scene of the explosion. A large portion of the surrounding area on Mount Bingham, including Pier Road and South Hill, was cordoned off.[1] Debris from the explosion, including rocks and glass, was thrown over roads and pavements across a wide area.[4] Buildings in the surrounding streets suffered shattered windows, and buildings in the commercial district at the adjacent harbour were damaged. The emergency department at Jersey General Hospital declared a major incident and was closed to new arrivals following the explosion, and routine hospital wards were temporarily closed to visitors.[1]
Specialist hazardous area response team and an urban search and rescue team from Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service were flown to the Island to assist in the search and rescue.[5] Equipment and personnel were flown to the Island by UK Coastguard and Royal Air Force helicopters. Crews, including a sniffer dog, worked through the night trying to locate survivors.[6][7]
Victims
After 24 hours, known casualties were three dead and two injured.[6] It was later confirmed another person was injured, bringing the total to three.[8] The number of confirmed dead rose to five late on 11 December. A further four are still missing.[3]
As of 11 December, Jersey police have ceased search and rescue efforts, with the remaining missing presumed dead.[9]
On 12 December, the seven victims of the incident were identified by Jersey Police. All were aged in their sixties and seventies.[10]
Investigation
The chief of the States of Jersey Police, Robin Smith, confirmed that the Jersey Fire and Rescue Service had been called at 20:36 on the evening prior to the explosion and attended the area after reports of a strong smell of gas.[2] They had left the scene at 21:01 after handing over to Island Energy, the gas network operator in Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man, in accordance with their standard operating procedure.[11] The company launched their own immediate investigation into the explosion[4][6] alongside, but independent of the official investigation launched by Jersey's authorities.[12] According to Andium Homes, owner of the block, there had been no mains gas supply at the block.[13]
Police Chief Robin Smith advised it may be a criminal investigation or a joint investigation.[7] As of 12 December, the search is ongoing.[14]
Aftermath
Up to forty people were evacuated from the area and given refuge at St Helier Town Hall following the explosion.[4][12] Two people suffered minor injuries and were described as "walking wounded", undergoing treatment at the Town Hall before being eventually hospitalised and released later the same day.[1][8] An adjacent block of flats was at risk of collapse due to explosion damage and had to be made safe by local contractors.[2] Fort Regent, the site of Jersey's COVID-19 vaccination centre, was closed following the explosion due to its proximity.[1]
The government of Jersey repurposed the island's COVID-19 helpline as a support line to provide information regarding the explosion in its aftermath.[15]
42 residents of the area have been displaced, with most having been found alternative housing.[10]
Response
The Chief Minister of Jersey, Kristina Moore, praised the island's "amazing strength" in coming together after a difficult week for Jersey, as a result of the explosion and a fishing boat going missing with three people on board in the previous few days.[4] A minute's silence was held at football and sports games in Jersey and a candlelit vigil took place at the Town Church.[7]
On 11 December, Timothy Le Cocq, the Bailiff of Jersey, announced that flags would be flown at half-mast until 23 December "as a sign of respect following the two tragic accidents" and that there would be a one-minute's silence at 11 a.m. on Monday 11 December. He also announced a fundraising appeal to support those affected by the incidents.[16]
See also
- 2012 Jersey gas holder fire
- Creeslough explosion, a suspected gas explosion in County Donegal, Ireland, two months earlier
References
- ^ a b c d e f "Three dead and 'around a dozen' missing after block of flats destroyed in explosion". ITV News. 10 December 2022. Retrieved 10 December 2022.
- ^ a b c Thomas, Tobi; Badshah, Nadeem (10 December 2022). "At least three killed and a dozen missing after Jersey flats explosion". The Guardian. Retrieved 10 December 2022.
- ^ a b "Five dead and four still missing after block of flats destroyed in explosion". ITV News. 11 December 2022. Retrieved 11 December 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f "One killed in explosion at flats in Jersey". BBC News. 10 December 2022. Retrieved 10 December 2022.
- ^ "Specialist rescuers flown to Jersey after 'pockets of fire' discovered in flat wreckage". ITV News. 10 December 2022. Retrieved 10 December 2022.
- ^ a b c "Search for missing people after Jersey flat explosion becomes 'recovery operation'". ITV News. Retrieved 11 December 2022.
- ^ a b c Potigny, Fiona (11 December 2022). "WATCH: Search moves to "recovery" at explosion site as no signs of life found". Bailiwick Express. Retrieved 11 December 2022.
- ^ a b "Searches into the night after deadly blast on Jersey". BBC News. 10 December 2022. Retrieved 10 December 2022.
- ^ "Jersey explosion: No survivors found in search after blast". BBC News. 11 December 2022. Retrieved 11 December 2022.
- ^ a b "Jersey explosion: Seven victims named by police". BBC News. 12 December 2022. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
- ^ Watch ITV Channel Islands News. ITV News. 12 December 2022. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
- ^ a b Whitehead, Dan (12 December 2022). "Jersey flats explosion: Police name seven victims missing, feared dead, after blast". Sky News. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
- ^ "No mains gas at Jersey flats destroyed in explosion as supplier conducts safety tests". ITV News. 12 December 2022. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
- ^ "Jersey explosion: Search enters third day after flats blast". BBC News. 12 December 2022. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
- ^ "Jersey explosion: Searches into the night after deadly blast". BBC News. 10 December 2022. Retrieved 11 December 2022.
- ^ "Minute Silence And Vigil For An Island In Mourning". Channel 103. 11 December 2022. Retrieved 12 December 2022.