At least 24 people have died as major wildfires continue to ravage the Los Angeles area in the US state of California, the city’s medical examiner said on Sunday.
No fewer than 16 of the fatalities are related to the Eaton Fire near Pasadena, and eight others to the Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades district.
There have been several major fires in the region since Tuesday, but these two are the most severe.
Officials fear the death toll may continue to rise, since it may take days before emergency services can safely access all areas impacted by the fires.
Firefighters were preparing for gusts to pick up again in the coming days, exacerbating what officials say could be one of the worst natural disasters in U.S. history.
The U.S. weather service forecast wind speeds of up to 110 kilometres per hour for Sunday, which, combined with dry vegetation, favours the rapid and unpredictable spread of both existing and new fires.
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, Cal Fire warned of “critical fire weather” through to Wednesday.
“Life-threatening winds and dangerously low humidity are forecast for much of Southern California – from Ventura to San Diego – creating a significant risk of rapid fire spread,” the department wrote on X.
It warned the wind would increase fire activity and urged people to avoid mowing their lawns and parking their vehicles on dry grass and to ensure all campfires were extinguished.
According to Cal Fire officials, some 12,300 buildings have been destroyed or damaged. Since Tuesday, almost 163 square kilometres of land have gone up in flames – a space almost the size of Washington D.C.
California Governor Gavin Newsom, speaking to broadcaster NBC, said the wildfires would be the worst natural disaster in U.S. history, in terms of the “scale and scope,” as well as the costs it has caused.
Newsom went on to sign an executive order to temporarily suspend environmental regulations for destroyed homes and businesses.
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