
- At least 16 people, including former Australian child star Rory Sykes, have died, with 13 others missing as six simultaneous wildfires ravage Los Angeles County
- Nearly 12,000 structures have been damaged or destroyed, with entire neighborhoods reduced to smoldering ruins
- Firefighters are battling worsening Santa Ana winds, with evacuation orders impacting 153,000 residents and warnings issued to an additional 166,000
Mumbai: At least 16 people have been killed, and 13 others remain missing after six simultaneous wildfires swept across Los Angeles County neighborhoods since last week. The fires have destroyed or damaged nearly 12,000 structures, with the death toll expected to rise.
Among the victims is former Australian child star Rory Sykes, known for his role in the British TV show Kiddy Kapers in the 1990s.
The fires, described as the most destructive in Los Angeles history, have razed entire neighborhoods, leaving behind smoldering ruins of homes and possessions.
Firefighting Efforts
Before the latest flare-up, firefighters managed to partially contain the Palisades Fire and Eaton Fire in the foothills east of the city. As of Saturday, the Palisades Fire was 11% contained, while the Eaton Fire was 15% contained, according to Cal Fire.
Aircraft have been deployed to drop water and fire retardants on steep hills to slow the eastward spread of the Palisades Fire. On-the-ground firefighting efforts have also intensified amid warnings of dangerous wind gusts up to 70 mph, which could exacerbate the situation. Over the past 24 hours, the Palisades Fire consumed an additional 1,000 acres, destroying more homes in its path.
Devastation and Evacuations
Residents of Pacific Palisades returning to their neighborhoods were met with scenes of utter devastation—brick chimneys standing amid charred rubble and burnt-out vehicles, with acrid smoke lingering in the air.
The National Weather Service has warned of worsening Santa Ana winds, with gusts expected to reach up to 70 mph through early Sunday and again from late Monday to Tuesday morning.
Evacuation orders currently affect 153,000 residents, putting 57,000 structures at risk, according to Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna. An additional 166,000 residents have been warned they may need to evacuate if conditions worsen.
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