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Firefighters have been scrambling to contain the raging fires wreaking havoc in Los Angeles before winds return later this week, while the death toll from the blaze reached 24.
Knewz.com has learned that a total of 16 people have been reported missing amidst the chaos, with authorities saying that the number is expected to increase.
According to weather service meteorologist Rich Thompson, the week is about to experience strong gusts of Santa Ana winds – defined as strong, extremely dry downslope winds that originate inland and affect coastal Southern California and the Baja California region – along with "a very dry atmosphere and still very dry brush, so we still have some very critical fire weather conditions out there."
These Santa Ana winds are reportedly "the worst in over a decade," with wind speeds reaching 99 mph in Altadena and surrounding areas in the past week.
It has been reported that the National Weather Service has issued "red flag warnings for severe fire conditions" through Wednesday, January 15, with reports suggesting that the conditions will be the worst on Tuesday, January 14.
The National Weather Services expects sustained winds of 50mph and wind gusts of a maximum speed of 70mph in the mountains.
Given the warnings, firefighting crews have been preparing for a tough week ahead, with Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony C. Marrone saying they are "prepared for the upcoming wind event."
Chief Marrone said that an additional 70 water trucks have arrived in Los Angeles to help fight the flames fueled by the renewed wind gusts, while "fire retardant dropped by aircraft Sunday [January 12] will act as a barrier along hillsides," reports have mentioned.
It has also been reported that the death toll from the raging wildfires has reached 24 over the weekend—eight of which have been attributed to the Palisades fire, and 16 to the Eaton fire, according to a statement from the Los Angeles County coroner’s office.
Officials have stated that the number is expected to increase as teams look for more bodies with the help of cadaver dogs, conducting grid searches in devastated neighborhoods.
Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said in a statement that 12 people have been reported missing from the Eaton Fire zone, while four more people have been reported missing from the Palisades fires.
Sheriff Luna stated that investigators are currently trying to find out whether some of the people reported missing have turned up dead.
He added that there are no children among those reported missing, as of now.
Luna further reported that over 150,000 people are currently under evacuation orders, and officials say that most of the orders will not be lifted before the "red flag warnings" pass on Wednesday, January 15.
Luna added that around 700 Los Angeles residents have taken refuge in the nine fire shelters.
Over the past week, a blazing inferno engulfed the Pacific Palisades, Eaton, and Hurst regions, leaving entire neighborhoods in flames and causing unprecedented destruction in several areas.
Reports have mentioned that over 9,000 homes and businesses have burned down due to the fires.
It has been reported that officials are currently building an online database where evacuated residents can check whether their homes have been damaged or destroyed.