Four people hospitalised and residents evacuated from homes after 'significant explosion' in Jersey

  • Watch ITV Channel's coverage of the major incident from Thursday evening, including Emma Volney's report from the scene

A family of four, including children aged two and five, have been hospitalised after their house exploded in Jersey.

The two adults remain at St Helier's General Hospital in stable condition with non-life-threatening or life-changing injuries.

Both children are unharmed and being supported.

Residents close to the incident have told ITV News that their properties shook with the force of the explosion.

St Saviour Constable Kevin Lewis confirmed a "significant explosion occurred near the Merton Hotel in St Saviour" and called it a "critical incident".

A major incident had been declared but this has now been stood down as they move to the recovery phase.

  • "The bang is like something I can't even describe" - ITV Channel's Sophie Dulson speaks to a neighbour who called 999 and explains what he saw

Emergency services including 20 firefighters were called to an unexplained explosion at a property in Le Mont Pinel in St Saviour around 11pm on Wednesday night (26 June).

They found a house with significant damage that was structurally unsafe.

Two adults were trapped underneath rubble and rescued, along with two young children.

Jersey Fire and Rescue Station Commander Ryan Hall explains: "This was a difficult extraction due to the damage to the building and there were concerns that it may collapse at any time.

"This was a challenging situation for emergency services, and I thank them for their quick thinking and bravery."

Jersey's Chief Minister, Deputy Lyndon Farnham, says: "We commend them for their quick thinking and actions in saving the lives of the family who, in the case of the two adults, were under rubble.

"The fact that two young children were removed from the upstairs of the property unharmed, when there were concerns that the building could collapse, is exceptional. The island is incredibly grateful."

A total of 19 residents were evacuated from their homes as a precaution and moved into temporary accommodation.

Deputy Farnham adds: "Our thoughts are with the family affected and those who have been displaced as a result. The Government is providing ongoing support to those families.

One resident who lives 20 metres away from the house did not want to be named but says: "I was lying in bed and it sounded like someone had driven into the side of my bedroom. The bang is like something I can't even describe.

"When I came out, I could just hear someone saying, 'Call an ambulance and the fire brigade' so I phoned them. Then I looked up and saw all the wall was blown out.

"I just felt sick, I could see the bunkbeds."

Emergency services and Jersey's utility companies were sent to the scene. Credit: ITV Channel

Another neighbour, Karen Basile, adds: "I was sitting on my bed and there was an enormous bang which shook the whole house, it woke everybody up.

"The fire service moved everybody back and within seconds of them clearing that area, more of the house fell.

"At one point I heard the person in charge say, 'I want everybody out alive' so it was obviously a very dangerous situation."

Police have closed the area around the explosion site. Credit: ITV Channel

The surrounding area is closed to the public as the States of Jersey Police remain on the scene with a cordon in place until the evening of Monday 1 July but school traffic is not expected to be affected and Mont Millais is open.

The cause of the explosion is currently unknown.

Island Energy, the mains gas supplier, and Jersey Electricity also attended.

An Island Energy spokesperson says: "Within the areas we were allowed to survey there was no gas escape detected on the evening of the incident and our teams returned last night to ensure that the area is safe and secure.

"We continue to receive zero readings of gas in the area. Island Energy has not conducted any work in this area in the last two years and we want to reassure people that we have conducted all the relevant safety checks."

It is expected to take around a week to make the property safe enough for investigators to begin their assessment - UK specialists may be called upon to come over and assist.

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