The number of people missing in northern California’s devastating wildfire has leapt to more than 600, and seven more bodies have been found, according to local authorities.
The missing persons’ list has doubled since earlier on Thursday.
The Camp Fire, the state’s deadliest and most destructive blaze, has killed at least 63 people. Nearly 12,000 buildings have been destroyed.
Three more people have also died in the Woolsey Fire, further south.
President Donald Trump will travel to California on Saturday to survey the damage and meet those affected.
About 9,400 firefighters are currently battling wildfires across the state.
The Camp Fire – which broke out eight days ago – swept through a swathe of the north at high speed, leaving residents little time to escape.
The official list more than doubled from 300 to 631 on Thursday.
At a news briefing, Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea said this was because investigators had thoroughly cross-checked their information, including emergency calls made since the Camp Fire started on 8 November.
“I want you to understand that the chaos we were dealing with was extraordinary,” Mr. Honea said.
He stressed that the number of the missing would most likely fluctuate.
“If you look at that list and see your name, or the name of a friend or loved one, please call to let us know,” Mr. Honea appealed to the public.
The California Fire Department says it has now contained about 40% of the Camp Fire blaze.
READ ALSO: Increased Health Education, Family Planning Services can save our lives – Youth
“We continue to engage in the fire fight. We continue to keep our eye on the ball,” chief fire department official Ken Pimlott said.
Officials say they do not expect to fully contain the blaze – which has razed 145,000 acres (56,600 ha) – until the end of the month.
North Korea to expel detained US citizen, state media says
North Korea says it will deport a US citizen who was detained in October after entering illegally from China.
State news agency KCNA said the man, whom it named as Bruce Byron Lowrance, had told officials he was “under the command” of US spy agency the CIA.
A man of the same name was deported from South Korea in November 2017 after being found wandering near the highly fortified border with the North.
There has been no official confirmation of the man’s identity.
“While being questioned, he said he had illegally entered the country under the command of the US Central Intelligence Agency,” KCNA reported
“Relevant authorities have decided to expel him from the country.”
US authorities have not yet commented on the report.
Last year, US media said the man expelled from South Korea – who has also been named as Lawrence Bruce Byron – had claimed he wanted to help resolve tensions between North Korea and the US.
He is originally from Michigan, the Los Angeles Times reported, and was arrested in a restricted area near the border with the North in Yeoncheon county, about 40 miles (64km) north of the capital Seoul.
