Quebec fire death toll climbs to 14 in Canada

Emergency workers continue the search for victims on Saturday, Jan. 25, 2014 in L'Isle-Verte, Quebec at the scene of a fatal fire at a seniors residence

L-Isle-Verte, Quebec:  Authorities say 14 people are now confirmed dead and that another 18 are missing after fire ripped through a seniors' residence in eastern Quebec last week.

Thursday's blaze destroyed the residence in L'Isle-Verte, a town 225 kilometres northeast of Quebec City. 

Crews have had trouble recovering bodies in the ice-covered rubble due to the frigid temperatures.

Provincial police gave the update at a news conference yesterday, the fifth day of the excruciating recovery effort.

On Saturday, investigators brought in equipment normally used to de-ice ships that pushes out very hot air to melt down ice that police said was 60 centimetres thick in places.

The last numbers given out by authorities on Sunday were 10 dead and 22 missing.