Authorities in California have confirmed that the death toll from the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles has risen to 10. This tragic update comes amid ongoing efforts to combat what President Joe Biden has referred to as the "worst fires to ever hit Los Angeles." At a recent White House briefing, Biden announced the allocation of federal resources and additional funding aimed at supporting firefighting operations and providing emergency shelter for evacuees. The funding, effective for the next 180 days, will cover costs related to temporary shelters, hazardous material removal, first responder salaries, and essential safety measures.

Vice President Kamala Harris, who has connections to California through her previous role as a senator, echoed the urgency of the situation. She described the effects of the wildfires as "apocalyptic" and cautioned that the aftermath would likely impact the state for years to come.

The fierce wildfires have triggered the evacuation of approximately 180,000 residents, with early estimates indicating that they have already destroyed thousands of homes and burned tens of thousands of hectares of land. As reported, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection is currently battling several massive fires, including the Palisades and Eaton fires, which are among the most significant.

As firefighting efforts continued into the night, fire officials noted a slight decrease in wind speeds, which allowed water-dropping helicopters to resume their operations. Unfortunately, the death toll may still rise as recovery teams begin to sift through the charred remains of structures. "This is absolutely an unprecedented, historic firestorm," stated Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, underscoring the severity of the crisis in the city.

In addition to the devastating impact on residents and property, reports of looting have surfaced as at least 20 individuals have been arrested for exploiting the chaos in affected neighborhoods. Los Angeles Supervisor Kathryn Barger condemned these actions, promising accountability for those who prey on the community during its time of distress. "Shame on those who are preying on our residents during this time of crisis," she remarked at a press conference.

Moreover, financial assessments indicate that the wildfires could incur over $8 billion in property losses, further exacerbating an already critical situation for many California homeowners. Morningstar-DBRS, a leading credit rating service, highlighted that more than 1,100 structures have been destroyed and that over 28,000 additional properties are threatened.

The scenario remains critical as local and federal authorities mobilize resources to address the crisis. For ongoing updates and more detailed reports, refer to the original articles on VOA News and VOA News.