The death toll from wildfires ravaging the Los Angeles area has risen to 16 as firefighters struggle to contain a blaze that threatens the city’s most famous landmark.
New evacuation orders were issued as firefighters raced against time to stop the fire from spreading before potentially strong winds return.
The fire, which started Tuesday just north of downtown Los Angeles, has burned tens of thousands of acres and more than 12,000 structures.
Firefighters first made progress on the Eaton fire north of Pasadena Friday afternoon. The fire destroyed more than 7,000 structures, including homes, apartment buildings, businesses, outbuildings and vehicles.
The cause of the largest blaze is unknown, and early estimates suggest it could be the costliest wildfire in U.S. history. Damage and economic losses to date are between $135 billion and $150 billion, according to AccuWeather’s preliminary estimates.
Here are some of the satellite images showing widespread destruction:
