The death toll from wildfires that have been ravaging the Los Angeles area for nearly a week has climbed to 24, with officials warning that more high winds forecast for this week could intensify the devastation, the BBC reported.
Fire crews are working to contain three major blazes before the notorious Santa Ana winds, expected to reach up to 60 mph, peak between Sunday night and Wednesday.
The largest of the three, the Palisades Fire, has already scorched more than 23,000 acres and is only 13% contained. The Eaton Fire, which has burned through 14,000 acres, is at 27% containment. The smaller Hurst Fire, at 799 acres, is nearly fully controlled.
Fire crews from eight states, as well as Canada and Mexico, have joined 14,000 local firefighters in combating the flames. Aircraft, including 84 firefighting planes, have been working with ground teams to slow the fires’ advance. However, officials have warned that the high winds could undermine containment progress and threaten more lives and homes.
Authorities have told residents near evacuation zones to be ready to leave at a moment’s notice.
Sixteen victims were found in the Eaton Fire zone, and eight were discovered in the Palisades area. Another 16 people remain missing.
The financial toll of the wildfires is staggering. Private company Accuweather is estimating losses between USD 250 billion and USD 275 billion, putting the disaster among the costliest in US history.