2022 St Helier explosion

The explosion occurred in a three-storey block of flats on Pier Road, which is located on the eastern shore of St Helier's harbour on the south side of the town. The building involved was a social housing block known as (), owned by the Jersey government-owned housing company Andium Homes. == Explosion ==

At 3:53 a.m. The explosion, which was caught on CCTV camera It was loud enough to be heard across the island, waking up local residents across St Helier who described it as feeling like an earthquake. The explosion caused a fire which sent a plume of smoke billowing across the town's harbour. The fire caused by the explosion was quickly extinguished by the Jersey Fire and Rescue Service, and specialist resources were deployed to stabilise the scene and attempt to reach any possible survivors in the rubble. Equipment and personnel were flown to the island by UK Coastguard and Royal Air Force helicopters. Crews, including a sniffer dog, worked through the night trying to locate survivors. == Victims ==

After 24 hours, known casualties were three dead and two injured. The number of confirmed dead rose to five late on 11 December, with a further four still missing. On 11 December, Jersey police ceased search and rescue efforts, with the remaining missing presumed dead. On 12 December, seven missing people, believed victims of the incident were named by Jersey Police. Two people were still believed to be missing. On 13 December, the names of two further missing people were released. On 14 December, the number of confirmed deaths increased to eight, with one missing person. On 15 December, the final missing resident was found dead. On 25 December there was a tenth fatality when a woman living at 35 Haut de Mont, a neighbouring flat who had been injured by the blast died in hospital. == Investigation ==

The chief of the States of Jersey Police, Robin Smith, confirmed that the Jersey Fire and Rescue Service had been called at 20:36 on the evening prior to the explosion and attended the area after reports of a smell of gas. They had left the scene at 21:01 after handing over to Island Energy, the gas network operator in Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man, in accordance with their standard operating procedure. According to Andium Homes, owner of the block, there had been no mains gas supply at the block. The company's chief executive said that "There was a redundant Island Energy supply at Haut du Mont but as Island Energy have confirmed, no gas was being consumed on site either by us or our residents". In September 2022, Andium asked Island Energy to disconnect the redundant supply from the mains network after the last tenant in a different apartment block in the Haut du Mont development switched to an electric cooker. A trench where gas engineers had been working before the incident in the street below Haut du Mont was subject to a police cordon but Smith said this was not part of the investigation. Smith advised it may be a criminal investigation or a joint investigation. but under mutual aid arrangements, 26 specialist investigators from the United Kingdom including a fire and explosives expert, gas and structural expert and an archaeologist from the National Crime Agency were brought in to assist in the investigation, which is expected to take months. Fifteen more investigators were due to arrive on 18 December, bringing the total number of specialists to 48. A further 25 detectives were working full time on interviewing people. On 30 December the Deputy Viscount in his role as the island's coroner opened the inquest into the 10 deaths. The police reported in August, nine months after the explosion, that there were 21 officers working full time on the investigation, 708 statements had been taken and 1,307 lines of enquiry had been pursued as part of Operation Spire. In an update to the media on 14 November 2023, Smith said that forensic tests by the UK Health and Safety Executive were underway as part of Operation Spire, a joint criminal investigation between the States of Jersey Police and Jersey's Health and Safety Inspectorate (HSI) which was considering whether Jersey's Health and Safety at Work law had been broken. and released on bail. In February 2025, the three, all former Island Energy workers, were each charged with ten counts of gross negligence manslaughter. They appeared in Jersey's Magistrate's Court on 14 March 2025. == Aftermath ==

Up to 40 people were evacuated from the area and given refuge at St Helier Town Hall following the explosion. Fort Regent, the site of Jersey's COVID-19 vaccination centre, was closed following the explosion due to its proximity. Forty-two residents of the area were displaced, with most having been found alternative housing. They may not be able to return to their homes before Christmas 2022. == Response ==

The Chief Minister of Jersey, Kristina Moore, praised the island's "amazing strength" in coming together after a difficult week for Jersey, as a result of the explosion and a fishing trawler going missing with three people on board in the previous few days On 11 December, Timothy Le Cocq, the Bailiff of Jersey, announced that flags would be flown at half-mast until 23 December "as a sign of respect following the two tragic accidents" and that there would be a one-minute's silence at 11 a.m. on Monday 11 December. He also announced a fundraising appeal to support those affected by the incidents. In a letter to the Lieutenant Governor of Jersey, King Charles III wrote that he and his wife were "dreadfully shocked and saddened" by the two tragedies affecting the island, and offered his deepest sympathy and condolences to all islanders affected by the "heart-breaking" events. == See also ==