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.
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.
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.
