One person has died and “around a dozen” are missing after a large explosion at a block of flats in Jersey.
Two “walking wounded” have been taken to hospital as police on the Channel island search the site following the blast at Haut du Mont on Pier Road, St Helier.
Officers have said relatives are being contacted.
Police said the fire has been extinguished, but emergency services are still “carrying out significant work” at the scene, which is cordoned off, and people have been asked to avoid the area.
Robin Smith, chief officer at States of Jersey Police, said the force received reports of a “large explosion” at around 4am on Saturday.
He said one person had died and two people, whom he described as “walking wounded”, were taken to hospital. He added that “a dozen” people are still missing.
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.
Mr Smith added between 20 and 30 people evacuated from the area had been taken to St Helier Town Hall.
Kristina Moore, the chief minister of Jersey, said the flats were run by Andium Homes who were working to ensure anyone who has been displaced has somewhere to stay on Saturday night.
She also paid tribute to the emergency services for their ongoing work at the scene, which she said would take “some days” to clear.
Speaking at a press conference on Saturday morning, Ms Moore said: “Through these difficult times, I think it’s reassuring for everyone to see what amazing strength we have within our emergency services and, again, we just thank everybody who stepped up and came to the rescue and continue to work on the scene.
“This is going to take some days and we will keep everyone updated and fully informed and we will do our very best to ensure everybody is properly looked after.”
