Los Angeles fires death toll rises to 24

The death toll from the ravaging wildfires in Los Angeles has risen to 24 on Sunday, local media reported, Xinhua reports. 

As reported earlier, fires across Los Angeles County have burned over 19,000 acres, forcing mass evacuations and destroying a number of neighborhoods.

Officials confirmed 10 fatalities as of January 10 and significant property losses as containment efforts continue.

The Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) reports that about 180,000 Los Angeles County residents have been evacuated as flames continue to destroy Southern California. More than 10,000 structures may have been damaged or destroyed, with 5,316 confirmed as impacted as of last Thursday afternoon.

Over 19,000 acres have been destroyed by the fires, leaving businesses and homes along Pacific Coast Highway and Pacific Palisades in ruins.

A report from Kazinform News Agency showed Southern California suffering catastrophic losses, with AccuWeather estimating damages at between $52 billion and $57 billion.