LONDON — A search for people missing after an explosion at a block of flats in Jersey that left three dead has found no signs of life.

Emergency service leaders said a recovery operation was under way.

“We have been searching and we will not stop searching for people’s loved ones,” Chief Fire Officer Paul Brown told a press conference.

It is understood there were nine known residents in the block before the blast in St Helier on Saturday morning.

Three bodies have been found at the Pier Road scene and specialist teams are continuing to look for six more.

The final total is estimated to be up to a dozen, as details on visitors to the flats are unknown.

Emergency crews are carrying out a “painstaking search of the debris”, Chief of Police Robin Smith said

It was earlier confirmed the fire service had attended the scene on Friday night after the smell of gas was reported.

Specialist teams and a search dog are at the scene, following the collapse.

Chief of Jersey Police Robin Smith described how there had been “meticulous and painstaking search of the debris following the explosion, to start carefully identifying bodies when and if we find them”.

He said: “That will take time. We are not going to be here for days we are likely to be here for weeks.”

Smith said it was “difficult to be precise” on the total number of fatalities. “The one area I can be precise on is we have three confirmed fatalities,” he said. “It’s a number we hope we don’t get to but that’s the number we are working to.”

None of the emergency leaders could confirm the cause of the blast. Smith was asked whether it was a gas explosion. “It looks likely that is the case,” he said. “But as you often here the police service say, we keep all our options open.”

Paul Brown, Jersey chief fire officer, acknowledged something had gone “horribly wrong” after the fatal explosion.

Speaking at Sunday morning’s press conference, he said: “Something clearly has gone wrong as a building has exploded and collapsed.”

Brown told reporters that the fire service will be “cooperating fully” with “honesty” and “transparency”, but the main focus is currently the search operation.

Chief Minister Kristina Moore earlier told the BBC she was woken by the blast. “Across the island you could hear this extraordinary sound,” she said.

“It was not quite clear what it was but it certainly woke myself and many people. It’s unthinkable news, we’re all absolutely devastated and really concerned for the people who are involved, for those whose lives have been lost. Those families will get the answers they need,” she said.

“We’re so grateful to the emergency services and everybody who is absolutely committed to searching through the rubble to find everybody.”

Specialist teams from the UK’s Ministry of Defense and fire services have been supporting local crews.

They include the South West Hazardous Area Response Team, alongside an Urban Search and Rescue Team from Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire & Rescue Service.

Two people who were in hospital earlier have been released and one other person is receiving treatment.

Search teams continued their work through a bitterly cold night and into the morning

Jersey’s gas supplier, Island Energy, said it was working with the fire service to understand what had happened.

The three-story building that collapsed is owned by Andium Homes, a state-owned but independent company that rents out properties. It said it was focusing on supporting residents at the estate.

Moore said residents displaced by the blast were being found somewhere to stay.

“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,” she added.

The Town Church opened on Saturday evening for islanders to light candles and pay respects to those who had died.

Justice Secretary and Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab tweeted he was “deeply saddened” by the news.

“I commend the work of the emergency services responding and we stand ready to support in any way we can,” he said.

The incident comes days after three fishermen were reported missing following a collision at sea on Thursday.

Moore said: “It’s been a really tough week, it’s just been unprecedented.

“Two very different tragedies, but I think it showed the resilience we have and the amazing emergency response that we have been able to muster, but also the companionship of our near neighbors who have joined in our efforts and we’re really grateful to them.” — BBC