Explosion on self-governing British dependency Jersey island kills 1 person

By Aysu Bicer

LONDON (AA) - At least one person was killed and a dozen are believed to be missing following an explosion in a block of flats in St. Helier, the capital of the self-governing British dependency the island of Jersey, police said on Saturday.

Local reports said around 12 people are missing, with two "walking wounded" have been taken to hospital while police on the Channel island were searching the site.

Robin Smith, the chief officer of the States of Jersey police, said the scene of the blast was "devastating," and that there could be more deaths.

He also said he expected the searches to take "a number of days."

"We have a three-story building that has completely collapsed – described from a demolition point of view as a pancake that has dropped almost straight down," he said.

"There is also damage to a nearby building as well, another block of flats that the fire service needs to make safe. It is a pretty devastating scene, I regret to say."