At least ten people have died, and thousands of buildings have been destroyed as devastating wildfires ravaged parts of Los Angeles. Fueled by dry winds, the fast-moving flames tore through homes, businesses, and celebrity neighborhoods, forcing tens of thousands to evacuate.

According to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner, the death toll reached ten on Friday, with five victims succumbing to the Eaton Fire, one of four major wildfires still raging in the area. Officials fear the number could rise as recovery efforts continue.

The Pacific Palisades fire, which destroyed over 5,000 structures, has become the most destructive fire in Los Angeles history. This wildfire scorched 200 acres of primarily residential property, with firefighters struggling to contain it due to high winds and dry hydrants. Nearly 27 square miles (70 square km) of land in the coastal neighborhood were burned.

As of Thursday, nearly 180,000 residents were under mandatory evacuation orders. Areas such as Calabasas, Santa Monica, and West Hills were at risk, with several Hollywood celebrities, including Mark Hamill, Mandy Moore, and Paris Hilton, among those displaced by the fires.

The wildfires have scorched approximately 45 square miles (117 square km) of land in Los Angeles County, an area roughly the size of San Francisco. Los Angeles Sheriff Robert Luna likened the destruction to an “atomic bomb dropped in these areas.”

More than 7,500 personnel, including firefighters and emergency responders, are working tirelessly to combat the blazes. California has deployed over 1,400 firefighters, with additional crews sent from Oregon, Washington, Utah, New Mexico, and Arizona.

In response to the disaster, US President Joe Biden authorized federal resources and funding to assist in the firefighting efforts. The new federal funds will cover the full cost of hazardous materials removal, shelters, first responder salaries, and protective measures for up to 180 days.

The fires were worsened by strong Santa Ana winds, some reaching speeds of over 70 mph (112 km/h). While winds have calmed slightly, the National Weather Service has warned that even moderate gusts could cause further spread of the fires.

A technical error on Thursday sent evacuation warnings to millions of residents across Los Angeles County, causing panic before officials corrected the message.

AccuWeather has estimated the economic damage from the fires could range from $135 billion to $150 billion, though official government assessments are still pending.