At least 5 dead, over 1,000 homes destroyed in Los Angeles County wildfires

Wildfires continue to ravage southern California, with at least five people confirmed dead, over 150,000 residents evacuated, and more than 1,100 homes destroyed, as flames spread unchecked across Los Angeles County.

Fueled by strong winds and dry weather conditions that have plagued the region in recent days, at least six separate wildfires have erupted across Los Angeles County since Tuesday, and nearly all remain largely uncontrolled, according to the latest data released on Wednesday by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE).

Among the most severe incidents is the fire in the Pacific Palisades area, which has already scorched 64 square kilometers of land. The Eaton fire, spreading in the Altadena area in eastern Los Angeles County, has also devastated over 42 square kilometers of forested land.

With the Palisades fire encroaching, authorities in Santa Monica issued emergency evacuation orders for parts of the city on Wednesday.

The wildfires have also caused widespread power outages, with over 310,000 homes and businesses currently without electricity, according to data from a U.S. power outage tracking website.

California governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency on Tuesday and also visited the Pacific Palisades area where he met with local and state fire officials.

The National Weather Service stated on Wednesday that strong winds are expected to continue until Thursday in affected areas, making it harder to contain the wildfires.

At least 5 dead, over 1,000 homes destroyed in Los Angeles County wildfires

At least 5 dead, over 1,000 homes destroyed in Los Angeles County wildfires

At least 5 dead, over 1,000 homes destroyed in Los Angeles County wildfires

At least 5 dead, over 1,000 homes destroyed in Los Angeles County wildfires

A Chinese mainland spokesperson on Wednesday slammed Taiwan leader Lai Ching-te over his latest remarks on cross-Strait relations, accusing him of promoting secessionism and escalating tensions across the Taiwan Strait.

Chen Binhua, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said in a press release that Lai's speech marking his second anniversary in office was "filled with lies and deception, hostility and confrontation."

Chen accused Lai of stubbornly adhering to a secessionist stance in pursuit of "Taiwan independence," while exaggerating the so-called threats from the mainland and intensifying confrontation across the Strait.

Lai played an old trick of advocating the secessionist agenda on one hand and, on the other, calling insincerely for dialogue and exchanges with the mainland, attempting to mislead people in Taiwan and deceive the international community, he said.

Chen said that these common tricks have been seen through by more and more Taiwanese people. Their deceptive and provocative actions will be met with firm opposition from compatriots on both sides and the international community, and are doomed to fail.

Reaffirming the mainland's position on the Taiwan question, Chen said Taiwan has never been a country, is not one now, and will never become one in the future.

He described the Taiwan question as a historical issue left over from a Chinese civil war in the 1940s.

No election result in Taiwan could alter the fact that Taiwan is part of China or sever the historical and legal bonds linking the two sides of the Strait, according to Chen.

The mainland would never allow any person or force to pursue secessionist activities under any pretext, he added.

Calling secessionists "the chief culprit" who undermines cross-Strait peace, Chen said the mainland would continue to uphold the one-China principle and the 1992 Consensus, unite broadly with Taiwan compatriots, combat secessionist activities, and safeguard peace and stability across the Strait.

Central government spokesperson refutes Lai Ching-te's latest remarks, warns against secessionist moves