The death toll from the fires raging through Los Angeles, in the west of the United States of America (USA), has risen to 24, the authorities announced on Sunday, writes AFP.
The Los Angeles County Coroner has released a list of victims, and it includes eight people who died in the Pacific Palisades fire, and 16 people who died in the Eaton fire.
Despite warnings that any attempt to go into the burning area is high-risk, many people who have been forced to leave their homes gather at checkpoints manned by police, hoping to get a chance to see the condition of their homes and whether their homes destroyed.
"I can't go home, simply because it's dangerous," said Los Angeles Fire Chief Anthony Marone.
"Our common priority is ... to bring people home as soon as possible," he told a news conference, adding that this would not be possible until Wednesday, due to the predicted strengthening of the wind.
"Rest assured, on Thursday the conversation about returning people to their homes will be our priority," Marone said.
Some residents waited in line for 11 hours for a quick, escorted tour of their homes in the evacuated area.
Some were not even allowed to tour their homes with an escort, as firefighters feared that strong winds could worsen the situation in areas affected by the fire.
The fire chief said that a system will be established that will allow residents to check online whether their homes have been destroyed or damaged.
"I know many people in my district are disappointed and frustrated, but safety is our number one priority," said Los Angeles City Councilwoman Tracy Park.
The number of evacuees is currently around 100.000, which is significantly less compared to around 180.000 in the previous days.
"Many areas still look like they were bombed," Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said, noting the danger posed by downed power lines and gas lines.
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