LOS ANGELES — The death toll from the ongoing wildfires in Los Angeles County has climbed to 16, with the fires burning for a fifth consecutive day.
Five deaths were linked to the Palisades fire, while 11 resulted from the Eaton fire, the LA County medical examiner confirmed.
The fires have consumed 40,000 acres, destroyed over 12,000 structures, and forced the evacuation of more than 150,000 residents.
The largest blaze, the Palisades fire, has scorched 23,654 acres near the upscale coastal neighborhood, while the Eaton fire has burned 14,117 acres in Altadena, northeast of downtown Los Angeles.
Containment efforts show slow progress, with the Palisades fire at 11% containment and the Eaton fire improving to 15% from 3% on Friday.
Two smaller fires, the Hurst and Kenneth fires, continue to burn, while the Archer and Lidia fires have been fully contained, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. — Agencies