New satellite images from Maxar Technologies show the number of buildings burning in the Palisades and Eaton wildfires in Los Angeles (Picture: Maxar Technologies)
Wildfires ripping through parts of Los Angeles – forcing at least 150,000 people to flee their homes – are so extensive that they can now be seen from Space.
Satellite images show the apocalyptic scenes, which have been described as ‘hell on earth’ by those forced to face them.
Follow our live blog for the latest updates on the LA wildfires
For more than 48 hours, the inferno – believed to be the worst in the history of LA – has been ravaging communities in the Palisades and Eaton areas.
‘This firestorm is the big one,’ LA mayor Karen Bass said after rushing back to the city, cutting short an official trip to Ghana.
Firefighters are so far unable to contain the flames, leaving them to spread across thousands of acres.
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At least six separate wildfires were burning in Los Angeles county, with at least three of them were listed as ‘0% controlled’.
They include two huge conflagrations on the eastern and western flanks of the city and the smaller Sunset fire raging in Hollywood Hills just above the Hollywood Boulevard and its Walk of Fame.
At least 17,234 acres have burned in the Palisades fire and another 10,600 acres in the Eaton fire. Both infernos are 0% contained.
Flames have been exacerbated by hurricane-force 80mph gales – and the fact that parts of the LA county have not seen any rain in months.
More than 1,000 buildings have already been destroyed by flames, while at least five people are confirmed dead so far.
Smoke can also be seen rising from the cities of Malibu and Santa Monica in the satellite images.
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