New York City Mayor Eric Adams (D) modified the death toll in the Bronx apartment building fire to reflect that 17 people died, not 19 as initially reported.
The victims were nine adults and eight children, Adams said at a press conference. Dozens of others were injured in the blaze.
“This is an unspeakable tragedy,” Adams said, adding that he had been to every school attended by the children who died in the fire to offer support.
“Just a few moments ago, I received a call from President Biden, and he has made it clear that whatever we need, the White House is going to be there for us,” Adams noted.
“This tragedy is not going to define us. It is going to show our resiliency as we help the families through this,” the mayor also said.
The blaze, which was the deadliest fire that New York City has seen in decades, erupted on Sunday as a result of a malfunctioning space heater.
Nearly 200 firefighters responded to the building after the flames started, and more than 30 people have “serious injuries” as a result of the fire, the fire department said in a tweet on Sunday.
Authorities are still investigating the incident.
Outside the U.S., Pope Francis expressed condolences to the families of the victims killed in the fire.
In a telegram to New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the pope extended “heartfelt condolences and the assurance of his spiritual closeness” to those impacted by the “devastating” fire.