At least 24 people have been confirmed dead as massive wildfires continue to ravage the Los Angeles area, with California Governor Gavin Newsom calling it potentially the most devastating natural disaster in U.S. history.
The fires, which have destroyed over 12,000 structures and forced more than 100,000 people to evacuate, have caused an estimated $135–$150 billion in damages.
The death toll includes eight victims from the Palisades Fire zone and 16 from the Eaton Fire zone. Among those killed was former Australian child star Rory Sykes, known for the 1990s British TV show Kiddy Kapers.
The Palisades Fire, spanning 23,600 acres, is only 11% contained, while the Eaton Fire has scorched 14,000 acres and is 15% contained. A fire tornado was reportedly spotted as flames tore through California’s San Fernando Valley.
Hollywood stars including Anthony Hopkins, Paris Hilton, Mel Gibson, and Billy Crystal have lost their homes to the disaster, which has drawn comparisons to a Hollywood movie.
Firefighters received a brief respite as hurricane-force Santa Ana winds subsided over the weekend but have been warned of their return, with gusts of up to 96 km/h expected through Wednesday.
Governor Newsom has pledged to rebuild and “reimagine L.A. 2.0,” while President-elect Donald Trump criticized California officials, calling the disaster “one of the worst catastrophes in the history of our country.”
An investigation has been launched to determine the cause of the fires, which could be natural or deliberate, as wildfires often play a natural role in environmental cycles
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