An explosion was reported at the Rayneau Quarry in the Ferrand Estate in Cul de Sac on Tuesday, March 21, 2017. First responders from the St. Lucia Fire Service and Royal St. Lucia Police Force immediately reported to the site to find that the most severely injured were transported to the Victoria Hospital via private vehicles.

A fire resulting from the blast was extinguished by Fire Service personnel following which an initial search was undertaken. Two (2) persons were confirmed dead on the scene by a medical doctor. A secondary search carried out by the Police and Fire Departments assisted by an employee of the company revealed no further casualties.

Twenty-one (21) persons were seen at the Victoria Hospital on Tuesday evening, one (1) subsequently succumbed to his injury.  An additional nine (9) persons with minor tissue injuries reported to the Accident and Emergency Department for medical review on Wednesday.

Four (4) persons were airlifted to Martinique, they were facilitated by a team of three (3) from Martinique who arrived in Saint Lucia at about 2 am on Wednesday.   Three (3) persons are listed as serious but stable at the Victoria Hospital.

The Director, NEMO has been in constant communication with the Prime Minister, and the Acting Cabinet Secretary on the situation and has received support particularly with respect to medical assistance from Martinique.

The Department of Human Services is providing counselling services to the families of individuals who were involved in the incident and are being supported by the Department of the Public Service through the provision of counselling and psychosocial support under the Employee Assistance Programme (EAP).

Investigators from the Fire Department and the Police are currently investigating the incident.