Police have named seven Jersey residents missing after a fatal explosion at a block of flats killed at least five people.
Peter Bowler, 72, Raymond (Raymie) Brown, 71, Romeu and Louise De Almeida, aged 67 and 64, Derek and Sylvia Ellis, aged 61 and 73, and Billy Marsden, aged 63, were all named by police as the investigation into the blast continues.
Earlier, Jersey police said four people were still missing and at least five people were known to have died. They warned they did not expect to find survivors.
A police statement said: “The families of seven Islanders missing since the incident at the Haut du Mont site on Pier Road have released their identities.
“The families, supported by officers within the family liaison team, made the decision this afternoon as the recovery operation continues.”
The police statement added: “The identities of the other Islanders will be released at a later date.”
It came as residents on North Quay Parade began returning to their homes after the police cordon was reduced.
Several buildings, including the homes of Andy Rawlinson, 54, and Steve McCherry, 60, have been damaged by the blast, with windows smashed and debris across their doorsteps.
Mr Rawlinson told the PA news agency he had been woken by the “almighty bang” of the explosion at 4am and he felt “traumatised” returning home, while Mr McCherry said the impact had thrown him from his bed.
A Jersey resident since 1979, Mr Rawlinson said: “It’s scary, it’s traumatic as well.
“It’s horrible being a few hundred yards away from where people are dying and there’s not a thing you can do.
“People have lost their lives so close to Christmas, it’s so so sad.
“I’ve never seen anything like that here. It’s devastating.”
Islanders in Jersey held a minute’s silence for those affected by the fatal explosion in St Helier.
Several uniformed officers, including Police Chief Robin Smith, and members of the specialist search and rescue team, observed the silence outside the States of Jersey Police Headquarters.
The key workers bowed their heads while traffic was stopped in both directions.
Chief Minister Kristina Moore was among those who stood outside the Government of Jersey headquarters, around half a mile away, to mark the moment.
