The fire in Los Angeles continues to rage, and the death toll has risen.

In the suburbs of Los Angeles, firefighters continue to battle a blaze that has nearly completely devastated the Pacific Palisades area. There is a risk of the fire spreading further due to strong winds.

This information comes from RBK-Ukraine, citing Reuters.

Aircraft are dropping water and fire retardants on the steep hills to halt the fire's eastward spread into the Palisades. Ground crews have managed to save several homes.

As of Sunday morning, January 12, the disaster has claimed at least 14 lives. Additionally, at least 16 people are reported missing.

California Governor Gavin Newsom stated that he expects the death toll to rise.

"I have dispatched search and rescue teams. We have dogs to locate bodies, and there will likely be many more," he said during an NBC broadcast.

Newsom mentioned that the fires may become the worst natural disaster in U.S. history "in terms of just the costs associated with them."

According to firefighters, the blazes have damaged or destroyed 12,000 buildings. By Sunday, over 100,000 residents in Los Angeles County were ordered to evacuate, while another 87,000 received evacuation warnings.

In the past 24 hours, the fire in Pacific Palisades spread an additional 1,000 acres (400 hectares), affecting even more homes. Fire officials reported that while 11% of the fire has been contained, it has engulfed over 22,000 acres (8,900 hectares).

Specifically, the flames have spread to Mandeville Canyon, the San Fernando Valley, and threaten to jump to Brentwood, an upscale area home to many celebrities. The fire has also approached the 405 Freeway, which runs north to south.

The Strongest Winds Ahead

The National Weather Service has warned that stronger gusts of up to 110 km/h may return early next week. Local authorities indicated that the strongest winds are expected on Tuesday.

A red flag warning has been issued for Los Angeles and Ventura counties until Wednesday, January 15. Winds combined with dry air and vegetation will maintain fire-prone weather in the region. These conditions are expected to ease by Thursday.

Authorities have declared a public health emergency due to the thick, toxic smoke hanging over the city and the poor air quality, as the fires have released traces of metals, plastics, and other synthetic materials into the air.

Meanwhile, progress is being made in restoring power in areas of Los Angeles. Southern California Edison CEO Steven Powell reported that approximately 50,000 customers remain without electricity, down from more than half a million just a few days ago.

Updated: Death Toll Rises

According to the latest count from local authorities, the death toll from the fires has risen to 24 people.

The Los Angeles County coroner has released a list of the deceased, without disclosing their names. Eight victims were found in the Palisades fire zone, while 16 were located in the Eaton fire area.

Widespread Fires in California

On January 7, six fires broke out simultaneously in various areas of Los Angeles. Over the course of several days, the burn area expanded to over 36,000 acres.

On January 8, a state of emergency was declared in California. U.S. President Joe Biden canceled his trip to Italy due to the need to oversee rescue operations.

Just overnight on Saturday, January 11, the fire spread another 1,000 acres.