Los Angeles wildfires: Five people dead as 'apocalyptic' scenes devastate the region
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The death toll from the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles has risen from two to five, as confirmed by local officials. The identities of the victims have not yet been disclosed. It's reported that around 1,000 structures have been destroyed due to the fires, a figure expected to increase. Currently, five fires are raging across the greater Los Angeles area, according to CALFire.
The two largest fires, the Palisades and Eaton Fires, have collectively burned over 25,000 acres. These towering infernos, which started on Tuesday, were fuelled by powerful Santa Ana winds, gusting up to more than 70 mph (112 kph) in some areas. The persistent winds made it too dangerous for aircraft to tackle the fires from the sky, further hindering firefighting efforts. However, aerial firefighting resumed on Wednesday morning.
READ MORE: Three-year-old boy dies days after New Year's Eve fireworks explosion. A series of 19 chilling photos depict elderly residents of Los Angeles fleeing the 'apocalyptic' wildfire. California Governor Gavin Newsom announced on Wednesday that 1,400 fire personnel had been deployed to combat the blazes, with Oregon reportedly sending an additional 240 firefighters and 60 engines to assist, reports the Mirror US.
The Los Angeles Fire Department has called upon all off-duty firefighters in the city to lend a hand. AccuWeather estimates the preliminary damage and economic loss from the fires to be between $52 billion and $57 billion. At least 70,000 people have been ordered to evacuate, a number that continues to fluctuate as new evacuation orders are issued. Hundreds flocked to the Pasadena evacuation centre by Wednesday afternoon, with many of them being elderly.
