At least 10 people have lost their lives due to wildfires that have engulfed many cities in Los Angeles County.
County Sheriff Robert Luna stated that these fires are among the most devastating he has ever witnessed.
"It looks like an atomic bomb has been dropped on these areas," the sheriff remarked.
Luna expressed that he "does not expect good news." According to him, the death toll is likely to rise given the scale of the disaster.
The fires in Pacific Palisades and Eaton Canyon have already been deemed the most destructive in Los Angeles history, with entire neighborhoods reduced to ashes.
Thousands of homes and businesses have been destroyed, and nearly 180,000 people have received evacuation orders.
Another significant fire, the Kenneth Fire, spread rapidly over an area of 300 hectares. Evacuations are underway in the West Hills, Hidden Hills, and Calabasas areas.
"We expect the fire to spread quickly due to strong winds," noted Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, confirming forecasts that indicate winds will intensify.
All the fires that have erupted in the county are raging about 40 km north of the city.
Dozens of blocks in the celebrity-favored Pacific Palisades neighborhood have turned into smoldering ruins. In Malibu, many coastal homes, including the residence of Hollywood star Paris Hilton, have been completely destroyed.
The flames have obliterated at least five churches, a synagogue, seven schools, two libraries, and numerous shops, bars, and restaurants.
Officials have not yet released data on the damage caused by the fires or provided information on the number of burned structures.
Private company AccuWeather, which provides weather data and its impacts, estimates that the damage and economic losses to the city will total between $135-150 billion (€131-146 billion).
Fire department representatives indicate that the wildfires have started outside the usual season, as they typically occur during the dry and hot summer months. The cause of the ignition is still unknown, and an investigation is underway.
U.S. President Joe Biden has declared California a major disaster area and canceled a previously scheduled trip to Italy. U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris has also canceled her visit to Singapore, Bahrain, and Germany. The Vice President "will remain in the United States to support the federal response to the situation in California," states the White House website.