CHICO, Calif. — Desperate families posted photos and messages on social media and at shelters in hopes of finding missing loved ones, many of them elderly, nearly two weeks after the deadliest, most destructive wildfire in California history. The death toll stood at 77 Monday, with about 1,000 people unaccounted for.

“I have an uncle and two cousins that I have not been able to make contact with. Paul Williams, in his 90s, his son Paul Wayne Williams, in his 70s, and his daughter Gayle Williams in her 60s,” one woman wrote on Facebook. “Any info would be appreciated.”

Hundreds of searchers continued looking for human remains in the ashes in Paradise and outlying areas ravaged by the blaze Nov. 8, with the body count increasing daily.

Rain in Wednesday’s forecast added urgency to the task: While it could help knock down the flames, it could hinder the search by washing away fragmentary remains and turning ash into a thick paste. The sheriff’s list of those unaccounted for dropped dramatically Sunday from nearly 1,300 to 1,000 as authorities continued to locate people. Social media pages gave updates on who was dead and who was safe.

Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea has said he released the rough and incomplete list in hopes that many people would contact authorities to say they are OK. More than a dozen people are listed as “unknowns,” without first or last names. Some names are duplicated.

“We put the list out. It will fluctuate. It will go up. It will go down because this is in a state of flux,” Honea said Monday.

He said his office was working with the Red Cross to account for people entering and leaving shelters. Evacuees also helped authorities narrow the list.

The fire, which burned at least 234 square miles and destroyed nearly 12,000 homes, reported was two-thirds contained Monday.