Death toll rises to 25 as wildfires rage in Los Angeles area

The death toll from the ongoing wildfires in Los Angeles and surrounding areas has risen to 25, with the region's weather conditions potentially causing fire whirlwinds, authorities have announced. Officials in Los Angeles shared updated details on the wildfires, which have been burning for nine days. The death toll has reached 25, with over 12,000 buildings destroyed. Authorities reported that the wildfires in the Palisades and Eaton areas, which had been burning for days, have largely been brought under control. The National Weather Service issued a warning that new fires could break out due to strong winds and dry conditions. The service also extended the fire warning for the area after wind speeds reached dangerous levels. In an effort to prevent the spread of the fires, authorities cut electricity to over 77,000 homes in the region. Meteorologists have warned that the weather conditions in the area could lead to fire whirlwinds. These rare fire whirlwinds, which can reach heights of 10 to 50 meters, intensify the fires and cause them to spread more rapidly. The wildfires, which started in the early hours of January 7 and quickly spread due to strong winds, have already burned more than 37,000 acres. Approximately 150,000 people have been ordered to evacuate due to the fires. The total damage and economic loss caused by the ongoing fires are estimated to be between $250 billion and $275 billion.