LONDON: At least three people have died and many more are unaccounted for in an explosion and fire at an apartment building on the Channel Island of Jersey, according to police on Saturday.

Following the explosion in the town of St Helier, "about a dozen" residents were reported missing, according to State of Jersey Police Chief Robin Smith. The largest of the Channel Islands, Jersey is a self-governing British dependency in the English Channel, off the coast of northern France.

According to Smith, a three-story building "collapsed completely," and another nearby building was also damaged. He called the scene "devastating" and issued a warning that there could be additional deaths. According to Smith, the area received a call from the fire department the previous evening after locals reported smelling gas.

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If there are any safety concerns with natural gas lines, the police will look into them, he added. According to police, even after the fire was brought under control, emergency service agencies were working hard at the spot.

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Officials warned Jersey residents to stay away from the cordoned off blast area and to seek emergency hospital care only in the event of a true medical emergency.

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