32 presumed dead in Quebec fire, 8 confirmed

L'ISLE-VERTE, Quebec - (AP) -- The painstaking search through the iced-over remains of a burned-out Quebec retirement home resumed Saturday morning, with friends and relatives of the missing awaiting news. Just eight bodies of the 32 presumed dead have been recovered.
A massive blaze swept through the three-story building in L'Isle-Verte, about 140 miles (225 kilometers) northeast of Quebec City early Thursday. Quebec Provincial Police Lt. Guy Lapointe at a Saturday news conference lowered the number of missing from about 30 to 24 based on more detailed information.
Officials have formally identified two of the victims, with their names to be released later Saturday.
"The 24 people that are still missing, I think we can assume the worst. We're not going to confirm any deaths until we've actually recovered the remains," Lapointe said.