Washington - Saba:
The American authorities announced that at least five people were killed in wildfires that broke out on the outskirts of Los Angeles and are still out of control, warning that this death toll is likely to rise.
Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said in a statement today, Thursday, that "earlier, two deaths were announced, unfortunately, the number has risen to five as we continue to advance in this area." He added: "Remember that the situation is still very volatile, and the fire has not been contained at all."
The fires destroyed hundreds of buildings, prompting officials to issue orders for about 70,000 to evacuate their homes.
Strong winds have fanned the fires, which have swept through more than 2,900 hectares of land and forced tens of thousands of people to flee their homes. Meteorologists have warned that the winds could batter the region for days, bringing down trees and sparking severe fires in areas that have not seen heavy rain for months.