As the blazes in and around Los Angeles continue to rage, the death toll has risen, with at least 24 confirmed fatalities, according to authorities. The number of fatalities could still increase as rescue efforts are ongoing, with many buildings yet to be thoroughly searched.
Of the deceased, 16 are linked to the Eaton fire in the vicinity of Altadena and Pasadena, while the remaining eight are connected to the Palisades fire in the Pacific Palisades, officials said.
The death toll may still rise as rescue teams have not yet fully searched all buildings. According to the authorities, 12,000 structures have been destroyed.
Mild weather conditions had recently simplified firefighting efforts, enabling crews to partially contain the blazes. However, the national US weather agency is warning of strong winds in the coming days, which could fuel new fires or spread existing ones.