L'ISLE-VERTE -- Authorities say 16 people are now confirmed dead and that 16 remain missing after the fire that ripped through a seniors' residence in eastern Quebec last week.
Thursday's blaze destroyed the residence in L'Isle-Verte, about 240 kilometres northeast of Quebec City.
Only three people have been formally identified by the coroner's office thus far.
Quebec provincial police spokeswoman Ann Mathieu says the searches are progressing well and about 50 people are combing the rubble of the building in teams.
Earlier today, media were granted increased access to the remnants of the Residence du Havre to see the efforts.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper is among those who are expected to attend a commemorative ceremony in L'Isle-Verte this coming Saturday.
