World
Associated Press

California wildfire death toll reaches 40 with fears it will rise

October 16, 2017

The death toll from wildfires burning in Northern California has reached 40 as wildfires rage for a sixth day.

Sonoma County announced today that its coroner had confirmed two more deaths, taking the total in the county to 22 and the overall count to 40.

The toll had been 35 coming into yesterday, and it is expected to keep growing.

The fires were already the deadliest group of simultaneous blazes in California history.

No details were released on the newly announced dead, but it is likely the people were killed soon after the fires broke out nearly a week ago and their bodies were just discovered.

Authorities say they are sorting 300 unresolved missing persons reports, but they don't believe the death toll related to the wildfires in California will be anywhere near that number.

Napa County spokeswoman Molly Rattigan said investigators were trying to resolve 74 missing persons cases.

Sonoma County has about 220 unresolved missing person reports. 

About 100,000 people are under evacuation orders as the wildfires continue to burn.

As a flare-up drives hundreds more to flee overnight, some people who have been evacuated all week are demanding to get back into their homes.

SHARE ME

More Stories