At least 24 people have died as a result of fires that have swept through Los Angeles County in the US state of California, Fox News reported.
The identities of many of the victims have not yet been established. It was previously reported that 16 people have died and another 13 are missing.
The forest fires began to spread in Los Angeles County on January 7. According to meteorologists, the rapid spread of the fire is due to dry and very windy weather. The total area of the fires in the area exceeded 16 thousand hectares. The fire destroyed more than 12,300 buildings, including celebrity properties in prestigious areas. The homes of current US President Joe Biden's son Hunter, actress and model Paris Hilton, and actor and director Mel Gibson burned down.
Earlier, the American leader described the fires in California as the "largest and most destructive" in the state's history.