Rescuers have recovered the bodies of seven victims after last week exploding a fireworks warehouse in Northern California. Authorities said Sunday.
TV news reports show several explosions in a fireworks facility in a rural Yulo County community about 30 miles northwest of Sacramento. State fire officials said the explosion came after the fire in the warehouse, owned by active fireworks license holders.
Seven people were reportedly missing after the explosion, and the area sparked a brush fire in the area. The video shows thick black smoke emitted from the warehouse, and KCRA-TV's helicopter video shows bright sparks shooting out of the burning structure, followed by a huge explosion.
Yulo County officials said in a statement that they will not identify any dead persons on Sunday before formally notifying their families. But last week, some media reported that several victims appeared to be warehouse employees.
The cause of the explosion is still under investigation by many agencies, including alcohol, tobacco, guns and explosives in the United States.
The warehouse is managed by a company known as the devastating fireworks, which has more than 30 years of experience in designing and producing fireworks shows, the Associated Press reported.
“Our heart and mind are with the people we have lost, their families and everyone who has an impact on our community,” the company said in a statement last week. “Our focus will remain on the people that this tragedy directly affects and we will work fully with the appropriate authorities.”
Times worker Nathan Solis contributed to the report.
