More than 20 people are reportedly still missing in the aftermath of the fire. The event’s Facebook page is currently being used as a way for people to locate and collect information on attendees who are still missing. No information has been released about the cause or course of the fire.
UPDATE: 100% Silk has released a statement via Facebook, saying, “What happened in Oakland is an unbelievable tragedy, a nightmare scenario. Britt and I are beside ourselves, utterly devastated. We are a very tight community of artists and we are all praying, sending love and condolences to everyone involved and their families.”
Meanwhile, authorities are still attempting to explore the burned-out building, which was apparently an artists’ collective with a number of safety concerns: inactive smoke alarms, no sprinklers, packed corridors, and a second floor accessible only via a staircase made out of wooden pallets. Firefighters and police are continuing to work to establish an accurate accounting of survivors and victims; between 50 and 100 people were in attendance last night, and multiple outlets say authorities are worried that the death count could number as high as 40 lives lost.