Detectives yesterday continued their investigation into an explosion that claimed the life of a popular garden centre employee, a police spokesman said.

Oscar Mascarinas, 49 – a guest worker from the Philippines – died after the blast at a Southampton apartment block last week.

The popular and longstanding member of staff at Aberfeldy Nurseries and Garden Centre in Paget was seriously injured and later pronounced dead at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital.

His wife, 50, also a Filipino guest worker, was still in critical condition at the hospital’s intensive care unit at the last check, police said yesterday.

The suspected gas explosion tore through the Hilltop Court apartments at 8.50pm on May 2 and destroyed the couple’s home.

Five people were taken to hospital, with much of the building block extensively damaged and part of the structure collapsed.

Photographs published in The Royal Gazette today were taken last Friday. It is thought demolition work had by then been started at the property.

A Bermuda Police Spokesman said yesterday: “This incident is being investigated by detectives from the Criminal Investigation Department.”

He added: “It is a complex joint investigation involving both the Bermuda Police Service and the Bermuda Fire and Rescue Service.”

The Gazette asked whether any process had started for a Coroner’s Inquest into the incident.

The police spokesman said: “The process for a Coroner’s Inquest has not yet commenced as the incident remains under investigation.”

He added that the findings of the investigation will determine whether a report will go to the senior magistrate and coroner or to the Director of Public Prosecutions.