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Islanders have been paying tribute to the seven named so far as being missing following the Pier Road Tragedy.
Police have confirmed that five people are dead and a further four remain unaccounted for after the suspected gas-related blast which collapsed one of the Haut du Mont blocks in the early hours of Saturday morning.
Yesterday, with the consent of their families, officers released the identities of seven of that group: Peter Bowler (72), Raymond ‘Raymie’ Brown (71), Romeu and Louise De Almeida (67 and 64), Derek and Sylvia Ellis (61 and 73), and Billy Marsden (63).
Speaking in the States Assembly, Chief Minister Kristina Moore warned that islanders should brace for more “bad news” in the coming days.
Islanders have been sharing their sadness and memories of those lost in the blast.
A popular member of the island’s martial arts community, Mr Bowler became the Jersey Judo Association’s “oldest ever white belt” after joining the club following lockdown.
“He already held a black belt in Karate and was remarkably strong and quick to learn techniques. He always brought huge enthusiasm and a great sense of humour to our Wednesday evening classes and he will be very sadly missed,” said the club, which will be holding a minute’s silence in Mr Bowler’s memory on Wednesday.
Justin Corfield, who knew Mr Bowler from aged 14, having trained with him at Ishinryu, said the club “won’t be the same without him.”
He remembered Mr Bowler as a “real joker who never took himself too seriously”, while Joan Stafford Russell recalled a “character”, who was “always smiley, with a cheery nature.”
Known affectionately as ‘Raymie’, Raymond Brown was a Scottish tradesman who made Jersey his home around four decades ago.
“Devastated” former Housing Minister Terry Le Main described him as someone who “was very political minded and had strong views on protecting our Island.''
Pat Couppey remembered a pubgoer who would “hold court at La Bastille”, describing him as “very loud”, “very friendly” and someone who “always said hello to everybody.”
Barry Rawlinson fondly recalled a “one-off” with a love of Space Invaders, who could “literally talk the legs off a donkey”. He said he “undeniably will surely be missed.”
Louise De Almeida, a respected translator who gave many years of service as a Portuguese interpreter in the Magistrate’s and Royal Courts, was also lost in the blast, alongside her husband, Romeu.
Close friend Anabela Jardim, who would often dine with the pair, remembered them as a “lovely couple”, who were “good parents and good grandparents too.”
“They are going be in my heart and my husband’s heart forever. I'm not going to say ‘goodbye’ to them but ‘see you later’.”
Pat Couppey described Lancashire-born grandfather Mr Marsden, who worked at the former Le Riches, as “one of the loveliest men you could ever meet”, while Andrew Brown paid tribute on social media to a Lamplighter regular who will be “greatly missed”.
Lee Madden said he was “loved by so many”, adding: “to have known you is a privilege, to have loved you is a blessing shared by many and for all you gave us we are grateful.”
Gary Jeffery said on Facebook that the couple were “two absolutely beautiful humans”, who were “always smiling and never had a bad word said about anyone.” He added that they were “both too good to leave this world.”
Kate Farrell said Sylvia was a “lovely lady”, while Mae Milton Telford said that she had met the pair earlier this year at a wedding, fondly recalling how it was difficult to “keep Derek off the dancefloor!”.
Yesterday, an island-wide minute's silence was held to remember those whose lives had been lost in both the Pier Road and maritime tragedy, which claimed the lives of three fishermen last week.
Video: Jersey Ministers and Police lined up outside their respective headquarters at 11:00 on Monday morning. (Charlie Flynn/Christie Bailey)
Islanders are being invited to leave floral tributes on the steps at the bottom of Ordnance Yard, near the Jersey Museum. Books of condolence have also been opened at Parish Halls across the island.
A special service in honour of those whose lives were lost in the Pier Road explosion, as well as the fishing tragedy last week, will be taking place at the Town Church on Wednesday evening.
Flags are being flown at half-mast until 23 December.
Work is still ongoing to establish the exact cause of the blast at Haut du Mont flats.
Police Chief Robin Smith said at a press conference on Sunday that the "likely" cause was a gas leak, but that investigations remained ongoing under the supervision of a Senior Investigating Officer.
He said that Islands Energy Group, Andium Homes and the Health and Safety Inspectorate were all involved.
This afternoon, Islands Energy Group CEO Jo Cox said that the company was conducting its own internal investigation and that it was also currently safety testing the island's gas supply.
She revealed that the Haut du Mont block had not been connected to gas, but that gas engineers had worked recently at the site.
Follow Express for updates… and find more analysis and tributes in today's special edition of the JEP…
◆ LIVE UPDATES: Major recovery operation underway after Pier Road explosion
Gas engineers conduct safety tests after flat blast kills at least five
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