CNN
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At the 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 scent of gasoline the evening earlier than the blast. The scenario has not been designated as a terrorist incident, though authorities are investigating all avenues.
Native police have 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 “utterly collapsed,” Smith confirmed, describing the scenario as a “devastating scene.”
He mentioned a lot of 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 UK itself.
