Los Angeles wildfire death toll climbs to 28

Published January 22, 2025
This satellite image taken and released by Maxar Technologies on January 11 shows an overview of the Palisades Fire as it continues to burn in the mountains north of Santa Monica, California. — AFP
This satellite image taken and released by Maxar Technologies on January 11 shows an overview of the Palisades Fire as it continues to burn in the mountains north of Santa Monica, California. — AFP

Over two weeks into the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles, California, at least 28 fatalities have now been confirmed, up from an earlier count of 27, the county medical examiner’s office said on Tuesday.

Four wildfires are still burning across Los Angeles County, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

The fires burned 40,687 acres as of Tuesday and destroyed more than 15,000 structures, with over 100,000 people under evacuation orders.

The largest inferno has burned 23,448 acres in and around the upscale Pacific Palisades neighbourhood near the coast. Further inland, the Eaton Fire has burned 14,021 acres in the foothills in and around the city of Altadena, northeast of downtown Los Angeles.

The Palisade Fire is 65 per cent contained, while the containment of the Eaton Fire has hit 89pc, as firefighting efforts have started to succeed.

​​​​​​​Two other smaller fires, which have burned a cumulative 123 acres, ignited early on Tuesday in the city of San Diego, some 195 kilometres southeast of Los Angeles, with containment efforts at 50pc and 40pc, respectively.

Opinion

Editorial

Sustainable path?
Updated 13 Jun, 2026

Sustainable path?

The FY27 budget is the first clear signal that the government is ready to transition from stabilisation to growth.
Prioritising education
13 Jun, 2026

Prioritising education

THOUGH the improvement in the country’s literacy rate may be slight, as highlighted by the Economic Survey, it ...
Poverty’s rise
13 Jun, 2026

Poverty’s rise

AS attention turns to the government’s plans for the coming fiscal year, one set of figures deserves particular...
A difficult story
Updated 12 Jun, 2026

A difficult story

Unless productivity becomes the dominant target of economic policy, Pakistan will continue to oscillate between crises and fragile recovery.
Rough waters
12 Jun, 2026

Rough waters

AMONGST the key potential triggers for fresh conflict in South Asia is water. The Indian state is behaving in an...
Politicised football
12 Jun, 2026

Politicised football

ALMOST three-and-half years since Lionel Messi led Argentina to FIFA World Cup glory, the latest edition of...