Death Toll Rises To 31 As Wild Fire Rips Through California
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The death toll from the California fire has risen to 31, as one town is completely 'wiped off the map', according to reports.
Authorities in Northern California have said six people died in the town of Paradise, with five bodies being found together in a car.
According to Butte County Sheriff Cory Honea, the fire has left some areas so devastated that it's 'very difficult to determine whether or not there may be human remains there'.
He added: "In some cases, the only remains we are able to recover are bones or bone fragments."
He also said there are 228 people still unaccounted for. Thousands of homes have so far been evacuated as people flee from the fire - including the entire city of Calabasas, an area popular with celebrities such as several members of the Kardashian family.
"This weighs heavy on all of us," Honea said. "Myself and especially those staff members who are out there doing what is important work but certainly difficult work."
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This is the deadliest wildfire in Californian history and has over 8,000 firefighters tackling the blaze.
US authorities say around 397 square miles of the state is currently on fire, with strong winds resulting in the fire spreading quickly.
President Donald Trump tweeted on 10 November urging residents to listen to evacuation orders.
He has also blamed 'poor' forest management for the fires.
These California fires are expanding very, very quickly (in some cases 80-100 acres a minute). If people don't evacuate quickly, they risk being overtaken by the fire. Please listen to evacuation orders from State and local officials!
- Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 10, 2018
Meanwhile, former POTUS Barack Obama has took to Twitter to say he and wife Michelle are 'heartbroken'.
Michelle and I are heartbroken for everybody who's lost so much in California, and grateful for the heroism of the firefighters who've been risking their lives around the clock to save others. Please do what you can to help our fellow Americans in need: https://t.co/13rm1D6Rwk
- Barack Obama (@BarackObama) November 12, 2018
Authorities have been forced to call in mobile DNA labs to help identify victims.
Governor Jerry Brown has urged the President to declare a major disaster, which would see an increase in emergency response and more help for residents in days to come.
Topics: World News, US News, Donald Trump
