At least 24 people have died as severe wildfires continue to devastate the Los Angeles area in California, according to the city’s medical examiner on Sunday.
The majority of the deaths, 16 in total, are linked to the Eaton Fire near Pasadena, while eight others are tied to the Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades district.
Several large fires have broken out across the region since Tuesday, with these two being the deadliest. Authorities are concerned that the death toll may rise, as it may take several days for emergency crews to safely reach all the affected areas.
Firefighters are bracing for stronger winds in the coming days, which could worsen the situation. Officials are calling it one of the most devastating natural disasters in U.S. history.
The U.S. weather service has forecast wind speeds of up to 110 kilometers per hour for Sunday, and the dry conditions make it ideal for fires to spread unpredictably and quickly.
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) has warned of “critical fire weather” until Wednesday, citing life-threatening winds and dangerously low humidity across much of Southern California, from Ventura to San Diego. This creates a heightened risk of rapid fire spread.
Cal Fire has advised residents to avoid activities like mowing lawns, parking vehicles on dry grass, and ensure all campfires are fully extinguished.
The damage has been extensive, with approximately 12,300 buildings either destroyed or damaged. Since Tuesday, nearly 163 square kilometers of land have burned – an area nearly as large as Washington, D.C.
California Governor Gavin Newsom, speaking to NBC, described the wildfires as potentially the worst natural disaster in U.S. history, both in scale and financial cost. He signed an executive order temporarily suspending environmental regulations for homes and businesses that have been destroyed.