LOS ANGELES, Nov. 12 (Xinhua) -- The death toll from Northern California's massive wildfire rose to 29 after local officials confirmed that six more bodies have been recovered from the fire-raged area on Sunday, reaching a previous record.
According to the Butte County Sheriff's Office, the human remains of the six victims were located in the town of Paradise, 120 km north of Sacramento with a population of around 27,000. Five of the victims were found in homes and one was found in a vehicle. Paradise was almost destroyed by the wildfire.
Authorities expected the death toll to climb further as officials were continuing to search the fire-hit area.
The death toll has already matched the Griffith Park Fire in October, 1933, which is the state's deadliest fire so far, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
The Butte County Sheriff's Office also noted that more than 200 people are unaccounted for. On Sunday, the office activated a missing persons call center available to the public to provide and receive information about persons missing from the incident.
Fire officials also confirmed that the fire had scorched over 111,000 acres (about 449 square km) with only 25 percent contained as of Sunday evening.
The estimated number of structures destroyed by the blaze is still 6,713, including 6,453 homes and 260 business buildings.
According to an update of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, a total of 4,555 firefighters, helped by 21 helicopters and 88 dozers, are fighting the aggressive blaze.
Strong northeast winds are expected to continue through Monday morning and the fire area is still under the influence of low relative humidity.
"I want to thank all the firefighters and first responders -- everyone who has worked so hard under very, very trying conditions," tweeted California Governor Jerry Brown Sunday evening.
Brown requested a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration on Sunday to bolster the ongoing emergency response and help local residents recover from devastating massive wildfires burning in Butte, Los Angeles and Ventura counties.
