Photo: The Canadian Press

UPDATED 12:49 P.M.

Officials in Oakland say the death toll has risen to 30 from a fire that tore through a warehouse that housed an artist collective.

Alameda County Sheriff's Sgt. Ray Kelly announced the new figure Sunday afternoon.

Kelly says crews are starting to get deeper into the building and that as they advance they expect to find more victims.

Authorities also say DNA will be needed to identify bodies. Officials have asked families of those feared dead to preserve any DNA evidence they may have, including hair or tooth brushes.

Authorities say they have recovered more bodies from the charred remains of a building where at least 24 people died after a fire erupted during a dance party.

Alameda County Sheriff's Sgt. Ray Kelly declined to say Sunday how many additional bodies have been found, but said the process has been slow. Crews are using shovels and buckets.

The death toll rose Sunday from 9 to 24.

Kelly said some of the victims are from out of the country. Authorities are trying to contact family members of the dead.

The fire ripped through a converted warehouse known as the "Ghost Ship" about 11:30 p.m. Friday during an electronic dance music party. Officials believe 50 to 100 people may have attended the event.