Update: Silver Spring Apartment Fire Death Investigation; A Third Victim Located Deceased: https://t.co/mBYeeX5zpa
— Montgomery Co Police (@mcpnews) August 13, 2016
At a news conference Friday, Montgomery County Assistant Police Chief Russ Hamill said he believes additional bodies will be found in the debris of an apartment building in Silver Spring. But he declined to speculate on how many people remain missing; fire officials on Thursday had initially said five to seven people were unaccounted for.
RELATED: 2 dead in Silver Spring apartment fire, explosion
Fire officials say search efforts have been slowed because the building is in danger of collapse and needs to be shored up.
The explosion late Wednesday night shook buildings more than a mile away. On Thursday, police confirmed two deaths, and more than 30 injuries.
Search for unaccounted for victims will resume sometime today. Crews waiting at least for sun to come up. @ABC2NEWS
— Brendan McNamara (@BrendanABC2) August 12, 2016
2 people confirmed dead late Thursday morning. Others presumed missing found safe. No exact number on how many left. @ABC2NEWS
— Brendan McNamara (@BrendanABC2) August 12, 2016
As authorities investigate the cause of a deadly explosion and apartment fire in an apartment complex outside the nation's capital, they are looking into reports that residents smelled natural gas before the blast.