NEED TO KNOW
- Local authorities in northern California have discovered human remains at the site of a fireworks facility that exploded earlier this week
- Officials said in a statement released on Friday, July 4, that “no positive identifications have been made”
- The deadly incident took place on Tuesday, July 1, at around 6 p.m. local time, PEOPLE previously reported, and seven people were unaccounted for after the blast
Local authorities in northern California have discovered human remains at the site of a fireworks facility explosion days after the deadly incident first occurred.
Yolo County officials announced the grim discovery in a statement on Friday, July 4, three days after the explosion and fire broke out on the evening of Tuesday, July 1. Workers from the Yolo County Coroner’s Division accessed the site after it was confirmed to be safe and discovered the remains during a recovery operation, according to a statement from multiple emergency response agencies.
“At this time, no positive identifications have been made,” an official wrote in the release.
Seven people remained unaccounted for following the incident, PEOPLE previously reported.
“Recovery efforts are expected to continue throughout the weekend as investigators, coroner personnel, and fire crews work carefully and respectfully through the process,” the statement said. “The Coroner’s Office has been in contact with the families of those previously reported missing.”
Arson and bomb investigators from CAL FIRE’s Office of the State Fire Marshal are leading the ongoing investigation.
“Our hearts and thoughts are with those we lost, their families, and everyone impacted in our community. We are grateful for the swift response of law enforcement and emergency personnel,” a spokesperson for the company operating the facility, Devastating Pyrotechnics, said in an online statement.
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“Our focus will remain on those directly impacted by this tragedy, and we will cooperate fully with the proper authorities in their investigation,” the spokesperson added.
Marisol Ramos told NBC News earlier this week that her three sons worked at the site and have been missing since the explosion occurred.
“Let us do it,” Ramos said as she begged authorities to let her look for her adult children. “I’m willing to go in … I want to search for my kids.”
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