Firefighters battle the Palisades Fire as it burns structures in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles,(Image: AP)

Los Angeles wildfires: Five people dead as 'apocalyptic' scenes devastate the region

The two largest fires, the Palisades and Eaton Fires, have burned over 25,000 acres combined as five people have been confirmed dead in Los Angeles, with the death toll expected to rise

by · The Mirror

The death toll from the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles has risen from two to five, as confirmed by local officials. The identities of the victims have not yet been disclosed. It's reported that around 1,000 structures have been destroyed due to the fires, a figure expected to increase. Currently, five fires are raging across the greater Los Angeles area, according to CALFire.

The two largest fires, the Palisades and Eaton Fires, have collectively burned over 25,000 acres. These towering infernos, which started on Tuesday, were fuelled by powerful Santa Ana winds, gusting up to more than 70 mph (112 kph) in some areas.

The persistent winds made it too dangerous for aircraft to tackle the fires from the sky, further hindering firefighting efforts. However, aerial firefighting resumed on Wednesday morning.

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A series of 19 chilling photos depict elderly residents of Los Angeles fleeing the 'apocalyptic' wildfire. California Governor Gavin Newsom announced on Wednesday that 1,400 fire personnel had been deployed to combat the blazes, with Oregon reportedly sending an additional 240 firefighters and 60 engines to assist, reports the Mirror US.

Flames continue to rage through the region( Image: AP)

The Los Angeles Fire Department has called upon all off-duty firefighters in the city to lend a hand. AccuWeather estimates the preliminary damage and economic loss from the fires to be between $52 billion and $57 billion.

At least 70,000 people have been ordered to evacuate, a number that continues to fluctuate as new evacuation orders are issued. Hundreds flocked to the Pasadena evacuation centre by Wednesday afternoon, with many of them being elderly.

The raging inferno was heading towards densely populated and wealthy areas such as Calabasas and Santa Monica, where California's elite reside. Celebs like Mark Hamill, Mandy Moore, and James Woods were among those who had to evacuate.

PowerOutageUS reported that around 1.5 million customers in Southern California were left in the dark, with almost a million in Los Angeles County alone. President Joe Biden, already in LA, met with Governor Newsom early Wednesday for a briefing on the situation from local authorities.

Cars destroyed by the Eaton Fire sit in the parking area of a burned auto shop( Image: Getty Images)

He also reportedly had a phone chat with LA Mayor Karen Bass while jetting back to Washington D. C. aboard Air Force One. "It's going to take time," Biden cautioned, speaking about the recovery efforts following the wildfires in California.

Newsom expressed immense gratitude to Biden, saying, "It's impossible for me to express the level of appreciation."

White House national security spokesperson John Kirby, during a virtual press briefing, emphasised the significance of Biden's visit, stating it was crucial to show Southern Californians the government's commitment to both firefighting and recovery operations. Kirbyy noted that the president's presence impacted the response to the fires.