Human remains are believed to have been found in the rubble of a seaside hotel destroyed by fire, police said.
Two people are still missing after the blaze gutted the Penhallow Hotel in Newquay, Cornwall, early on Saturday.
Devon and Cornwall police said the search team had found what were believed to be human remains there.
"The families of the two people who are unaccounted for have been advised, but the process to confirm the identification is just beginning," said a police spokesman.
"The search continues for the other unaccounted-for person and any relevant evidence to assist the investigation," added the spokesman.
Earlier, Detective Chief Inspector Mike Fowkes told a press conference in Newquay that police believed two missing people were "sadly" in the burnt-out remains of the hotel.
A 43-year-old man died after trying to escape the flames which engulfed the hotel. It is believed the man, who has not yet been identified, tried to jump to safety from the second or third floor.
The police said said they would treat the fire at the hotel as a "major crime" until they found "evidence to the contrary".
Police said their casualty bureau had so far handled over 600 calls.
