Death toll in California fire rises to 87

The death toll in northern California ’ s so-called “ Camp Fire ” rose to 87 , officials said late Saturday , adding that the blaze was almost fully under control.Cal Fire , the state fire authority , said in its latest bulletin that the fire – which broke out on November 8 – was 98 per cent contained .

The office of the Butte County Sheriff said that 249 people remained unaccounted for – a steep drop from 474 missing reported earlier in the day .

It added that only 54 of the fatalities have been identified.

More than 153 , 000 acres have been torched, with nearly 14 , 000 homes and hundreds of other structures destroyed by the powerful blaze , California ’ s deadliest and most destructive fire ever .

Previously the death toll had been put at 84 .

Rain that soaked the Butte County fire area in the past days helped douse the remaining flames , but also made it more difficult for crews searching for bodies .

“ Areas experiencing significant rainfall following a wildfire are at risk for debris flow and flash flooding , ” the Sheriff ’ s office warned .

Cal Fire said that the remaining uncontained fire “ is isolated in steep and rugged terrain where it is unsafe for firefighters to access due to the heavy rains . ”

( AFP )

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