California fires: The death toll from the devastating fires rose to 16

The Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office in the US state of California confirmed that the death toll from the devastating fires in the area has risen to 16 people.
The Forensic Medicine Authority said in a statement on Saturday evening that the total number of confirmed deaths is 16 victims, and the cases are still under examination.
The previous number of confirmed deaths was 11, but officials said they expect that number to rise as teams continue to search for bodies, using trained dogs to search destroyed neighborhoods, while teams assess the damage.
The authorities have set up a center where people can report missing persons.
Fire crews estimate that more than 5,300 homes have been destroyed in the Palisades neighborhood since Tuesday.

Officials fear more than 7,000 structures may have been destroyed or damaged in the Eaton Fire, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department.
Fire Chief Anthony Maroney warned that the fire danger remained high due to strong winds, dry air, and dry vegetation.
California Governor Gavin Newsom said that firefighters from Mexico arrived in Los Angeles to join more than 14,000 firefighting workers.

US firefighters are racing against time to stop the advance of wildfires that threaten to reach the famous J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles and the University of California, at a time when new evacuation warnings have been issued that have increased residents’ anxiety.
Firefighters are waging a fierce battle against the flames in Mandeville Canyon, home of Arnold Schwarzenegger and other celebrities, near the Pacific coast. While thick smoke enveloped the hillside covered with small shrubs, firefighters on the ground used water hoses to try to keep the rising flames under control. .

Another night of terror

At a news conference, Christian Litz, chief of operations for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire), said the main focus Saturday would be on the Palisades Fire, which is burning in the Valley area, near the UCLA campus. He said: “We need to… We will be bolder there.”
County Supervisor Lindsay Horvath said the Los Angeles area witnessed “another night of unspeakable terror and grief, and more residents were evacuated as the fire expanded in the northeast direction from the Palisades Fire.”