Local fire department's efforts to contain the 124 wildfires across California have made slow progress, as blazes are still raging in multiple locations in the state.
In the worst-hit Los Angeles area, wildfires have killed at least 24 people, the County of Los Angeles Medical Examiner announced on Sunday.
Data released by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection on Monday showed that there are currently 124 large and small wildfires across California, up from 105 on Sunday.
The total area affected by these fires exceeded 164 square kilometers, and more than 12,300 structures have been destroyed.
Among the major wildfires in Southern California, the smaller Hurst Fire is now 95 percent contained, covering an area of approximately 3.2 square kilometers. The Eaton Fire, the second-largest blaze, has not changed in size compared with a day earlier, still 57 square kilometers but with 33 percent containment. The largest one, the Palisades Fire, has also shown no change, with a burned area of about 96 square kilometers and only 14 percent containment.
Los Angeles County has evacuated 150,000 residents, with over 700 in temporary shelters.
According to a CNN report on Monday, local authorities warned that while fires in some areas have been extinguished, these locations remain unsafe, and residents across the region should be prepared for possible evacuation.
The National Weather Service (NWS) forecast a high likelihood of wildfires in the hilly and mountainous regions surrounding Los Angeles due to a combined impact of low humidity and high Santa Ana winds, and the flames may grow explosively in some areas. In certain areas of Southern California, wind speeds may reach between 70 and 110 kilometers per hour, while humidity levels will remain low at just 8 to 15 percent.
According to the NWS website, the Los Angeles area is currently under a wildfire red alert, which will remain in effect until Wednesday.
Efforts to contain California wildfires show slow progress
