Rescuers searching for survivors of an explosion at a tower block in Jersey no longer expect to find anyone alive.
Robin Smith, chief of police, said: “It is with sadness that I am confirming that the search and rescue operation had been moved to a recovery operation.
“The decision was made after a detailed assessment and following the use of specialist K9 units.”
Three people are confirmed to have died in the explosion and around a dozen are still missing.
Emergency services, including firefighters, specialist rescue teams, and a dog continued to work throughout the night at the scene in St Helier.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
In video footage posted to Twitter by the Jersey government, the extent of devastation could be seen including piles of rubble, crushed cars and a blown out window in the neighbouring building.
Further updates are expected to be provided on Sunday morning.
At a news conference on Saturday, police described the scene at Haut du Mont on Pier Road as one of “utter devastation”.
Qatar World Cup: Harry Kane takes responsibility for England exit as Gareth Southgate to take time to decide future
World Cup 2022: Bitter disappointment for fans as England suffer World Cup heartbreak
Politics latest: Foreign secretary faces Sophy Ridge after Putin hints at peace; Royal Mail strike today | Politics latest
Speaking to journalists Mr Smith said that the tower block had “completely collapsed” and “doesn’t even look like a building” after the “very, very significant explosion”.
The States of Jersey Police were called to the scene at 4am on Saturday, with one person pronounced dead and two others, described as “walking wounded”, taken to hospital.
Fire ignited by the explosion was initially believed to have been extinguished, however on Saturday afternoon, Jersey Fire and Rescue said that “pockets of fire” had been discovered, adding that the site remains “highly unsafe”.
