Los Angeles fire death toll rises to 24; high winds warning

Scenes of devastation on Malibu’s iconic coastal road The California weather service has warned that strong winds that have fuelled wildfires around Los Angeles could return this week. Fire brigade teams are trying to bring three raging fires under control.

Winds were relatively calm over the weekend, but the notoriously dry “Santa Ana” winds are expected to return Sunday night into Wednesday, with gusts up to 60 mph (96 km/h), officials said.

Some control over the fire Some progress has been made in containing the spread of the Palisades and Eaton fires, which are burning on opposite sides of the city, before winds increase. Local firefighters are being assisted by teams from eight other states as well as Canada and Mexico.

On Sunday, the L.A. County medical examiner raised the death toll to 24, while officials said 16 people were still missing.

16 bodies have been recovered in the Eaton fire zone, while eight were found in the Palisades area.

Status of three major fires Three major fires are still burning around Los Angeles:

The Palisades Fire This is the largest fire, which has so far burned more than 23,000 acres and is only 13% contained.

The Eaton Fire This is the second largest fire, which has so far burned more than 14,000 acres and is 27% contained.

The Hurst Fire This fire has so far burned 799 acres and is almost fully contained.

Economic losses and warnings The fires are being considered one of the costliest disasters in US history. Private weather forecasting company AccuWeather on Sunday estimated financial losses between $250 billion and $275 billion.

Fighting the fire and the potential danger Although firefighters have begun to control the large fire, officials have warned that strong winds coming could create “catastrophic conditions.” The whole of Los Angeles County has been placed in a fire danger zone again.

“Unfortunately, we are back in red flag conditions. From now until Wednesday, especially Tuesday, the winds will be extreme,” Pasadena Fire Chief Chad Augustin told the BBC.

Scene of devastation Strong winds and dry climate have forced many areas of Los Angeles to burn. Many houses in the coastal areas of Malibu have been burnt to ashes. Relief and rehabilitation work is going on for the local residents and affected people.The government and relief agencies now need to take more effective steps to prevent fire and reduce its impact.

Conclusion: The forest fire in Los Angeles has become a terrible disaster, which has so far claimed 24 lives and turned thousands of acres of land into ashes. Strong winds and dry weather have made the situation even more serious, making it extremely challenging to control the fire.Although some progress has been made due to the tireless efforts of the fire brigade and international teams, the danger may increase further due to strong winds in the coming days. In such a situation, coordination and vigilance between the administration and the public is most important.This tragedy has once again underlined the need to pay serious attention to climate change and management of natural resources. This incident is not only a warning but also a reminder of how important human efforts and preparedness to deal with natural disasters are together.There is a need to strengthen relief and rescue operations in the coming days so that loss of life and property can be minimized and the affected people can be helped in rehabilitation.

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