As fire workers continue to fight the wildfires that are engulfing Los Angeles County, officials said on Thursday that at least 36 people are still missing, and two more deaths raised the total number of individuals who have died to 27.
In a report that was made public on Thursday evening, the Department of Medical Examiner for the County of Los Angeles revealed that the Palisades Fire claimed the lives of ten individuals, while the Eaton Fire claimed the lives of seventeen people.
“We continue to work with multiple partners, not only in the recovery of remains, but then ultimately the identification of the deceased and then the notification to the next of kin,” Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna stated.
In light of the fact that Luna stated that it was highly probable that further remains will be found in these regions, the authorities are continuing to enforce evacuation orders in the vicinity of those locations.
“As we’re going through some of these grids, there are areas that we are holding because we believe there are deceased victims there,” Luna stated. “We have to hold for the right time and the right resources to process the scene correctly, and that’s going to take a little while. Please be patient with us.”
Officials reported that at least 36 individuals were still missing in the wildfire areas while the death toll increased to at least 27.
Twelve of the 43 reported missing people in the county have been discovered safe, according to Luna. Thirteen missing people reports are still open, seven in the Palisades and 24 in the Eaton Fire area.
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Jim McDonnell, the chief of police in Los Angeles, reported that eight more people were missing within the city’s boundaries. According to him, five of those are still missing and three are thought to be dead.
The two biggest wildfires that firefighters are fighting are the Eaton and Palisades fires.According to fire officials, as of Thursday, the Eaton Fire is 55% controlled and has burned an estimated 14,117 acres. About 23,713 acres have been burned by the Palisades Fire, which is 22% controlled.
According to officials, thousands of firefighters were fighting the fires around-the-clock and were able to make progress in containment when the powerful winds that fueled the flames subsided.
Officials issued a warning about potential future weather concerns, including powerful Santa Ana winds that are expected to come on Monday or Tuesday, despite the break from good weather conditions.
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“There are more extreme winds on the horizon,” Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Kristin Crowley stated. “It is important that you protect yourselves and your family by planning, preparing and staying aware.”
Other officials cautioned that regions burned by the wildfires may experience mudslides and debris flows due to a possible window of rain later this month.
