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More bodies recovered in warehouse fire in Oakland, California

Xinhua, December 5, 2016 Adjust font size:

A spokesman of Alameda County Sheriff's Office said more bodies were recovered on Sunday as searchers entered two more areas of a warehouse burnt out 36 hours ago.

However, Sergeant Ray Kelly, at the second press conference of the day, declined to give a number.

More than two hours before, at the first briefing on Sunday, officials increased the death toll of an overnight fire that started at about 11:30 p.m. on Friday from 9 to 24. Unconfirmed reports said the total fatalities stood at 30.

The worst fire in the history of Oakland, east of San Francisco, took place during an electronic music party in a two-story warehouse converted into a party venue and probably a residence in an industrial neighborhood.

Officials said there was no sign of fire alarms and no evidence of a sprinkler system in the structure.

Kelly said on Saturday searching in the debris for victims could take at least 48 hours. He reiterated the time frame needed on Sunday.

Heavy machinery was brought in to the site on Saturday to help with cleaning up the debris and shore up the building, which is now a crime scene. Oakland mayor Libby Schaaf pledged on Saturday a thorough investigation into the disaster. Endit