16 dead, billions in damage as Los Angeles fires continue
Arab Weather - The Los Angeles County Coroner's Office in California, USA, confirmed that the number of victims of the devastating fires in the area has risen to 16 people. The office stated in a statement issued on Saturday evening that the total number of confirmed deaths has reached 16 victims, while some cases are still under investigation.
Searching for more victims
The previous confirmed death toll was 11, but officials said they expected that number to rise as teams continued to search for bodies using sniffer dogs to search devastated neighborhoods.
In addition, a special center has been established to report missing persons, reflecting the scale of the disaster the region is experiencing.
Mass Destruction in Palisades
Firefighters say more than 5,300 homes have been destroyed in the Palisades neighborhood since the fires broke out Tuesday. An estimated 7,000+ structures have been damaged or destroyed by the blazes, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department.
Continuous danger due to weather conditions
Fire Chief Anthony Maroney warned that the fire danger remains high due to strong winds, dry air and dry vegetation, stressing that controlling the fires requires intensive efforts.
California Governor Gavin Newsom said Mexican firefighters had arrived in Los Angeles to support more than 14,000 workers battling the blazes.
Battle to stop the fires
Firefighters are racing against time to stop the spread of blazes that threaten to reach landmarks such as the J. Paul Getty Museum and the University of California, Los Angeles.
In the Mandeville Canyon area, where celebrities such as Arnold Schwarzenegger live, firefighters used water hoses to try to contain the rising flames, whose thick smoke covered the shrub-covered hills.
Another Night of Terror in California
Christian Leitz, chief of operations for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, said the main focus will be on controlling the Palisades Fire burning in the valley area near the University of California. He added:
"We need to be more aggressive there."
County Supervisor Lindsay Horvath called it "another night of unspeakable horror and grief," as more residents were evacuated as the fire continued to spread northeast.
See also:
Why are California fires getting worse and more intense year after year?
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