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The wildfire crisis in Los Angeles intensified Sunday morning, with officials confirming 16 fatalities as emergency crews worked tirelessly to contain the spreading flames.
Forecasters warned of returning Santa Ana winds, with gusts potentially reaching 45 mph, threatening to push the fires toward several iconic Los Angeles landmarks.
According to the Los Angeles County coroner’s office, the Palisades Fire claimed five lives, while the Eaton Fire resulted in 11 deaths. L.A. County Sheriff Robert Luna disclosed that 13 individuals remain unaccounted for, though it’s uncertain whether these disappearances are directly linked to the fires.
🇺🇸🔥 Death toll from Los Angeles wildfires rises to 16, the County of Los Angeles Department of Medical Examiner says
/div>Eleven people have died in the Eaton fire in Altadena, and five others have been killed by the Pacific Palisades fire, the data showed. pic.twitter.com/P3YR7SvbDm
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Authorities anticipate the death toll may increase as search teams, accompanied by cadaver dogs, methodically inspect devastated neighborhoods. A dedicated center has been established for reporting missing persons.
The crisis has forced 150,000 Los Angeles County residents to evacuate, with over 700 individuals seeking refuge across nine emergency shelters. Power outages have affected nearly 35,000 homes and businesses throughout Los Angeles, as reported by Poweroutage.us.
Growing concerns mount over the fires potentially threatening the J. Paul Getty Museum and UCLA campus, while additional evacuation warnings have put more residents on high alert.
The fires’ devastating impact is reflected in Cal Fire’s latest assessment. The combined Palisades, Eaton, Kenneth, and Hurst fires have scorched approximately 62 square miles – surpassing San Francisco’s total area. The Palisades and Eaton fires alone account for 59 square miles of the destruction.
Michael Traum of the California Office of Emergency Services stated:
“Weather conditions are still critical and another round of strong winds is expected starting Monday.”
The massive response effort includes crews from California and nine other states, comprising 1,354 fire engines, 84 aircraft, and more than 14,000 personnel, including firefighters from Mexico.
As of Saturday night, containment levels remained low, with the Palisades Fire at 11 percent and the Eaton Fire at 15 percent. The fires, which ignited Tuesday north of downtown LA, have destroyed over 12,000 structures, marking one of the most severe wildfire events in recent Los Angeles history.
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