2 people found dead in Berkeley apartment

Two people and two cats were found dead inside a Berkeley apartment Monday afternoon, prompting police to evacuate their building and close off the street while investigators tried to determine what killed them.

The cause of death was not immediately clear, Berkeley police said. Police were called to the scene around 1 p.m. after someone found one of the bodies in the house. Police then found the second body and the two animals.

Photo: (c) Thinkstock Images Photo: (c) Thinkstock Images Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close 2 people found dead in Berkeley apartment 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

The 3000 block of Deakin Street, in central Berkeley, was closed to vehicle and pedestrian traffic. Authorities with the Berkeley Fire Department, PG&E and the Police Department all responded to check for hazardous conditions in the home or surrounding area.

Fire investigators were able to dismiss all likely hazardous causes, including carbon monoxide poisoning, within a couple of hours, said Deputy Fire Chief Dave Brannigan, a fire department spokesman.

Berkeley homicide detectives remain at the scene, said police Officer Byron White, a department spokesman. “We’re still stumped by this one,” he said.

Erin Allday is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: EAllday@sfchronicle.com