CNN
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At least three folks have died and a dozen are lacking after an explosion and hearth at an condominium constructing within the British Channel island of Jersey, the island’s Chief Minister Kristina Moore mentioned Saturday.
Police declined to invest on the trigger however residents had reported the odor of fuel the night time earlier than the blast. The state of affairs has not been designated as a terrorist incident, though authorities are investigating all avenues.
Local police had been alerted to the incident simply earlier than 4 a.m. native time, Robin Smith, chief officer of the States of Jersey Police, mentioned, including emergency providers then responded to the scene and extinguished the fireplace.
The three-story constructing has “completely collapsed,” Smith confirmed, describing the state of affairs as a “devastating scene.”
He mentioned various flats had been evacuated, including that between 20 and 30 folks had been taken to a close-by city corridor for shelter.
A search and rescue operation for these unaccounted for has commenced, Smith added.
Jersey is an island territory off the northwest coast of France, which is a possession of the British Crown, however not a part of the United Kingdom itself.