The number of victims of fires in northern and southern California in the United States has risen to 50, with thousands of firefighters continuing their firefighting efforts, search and rescue teams have sought to find more charred bodies among the rubble of homes in the worst forest fires of its kind In the history of this US state.
At least 50 people were confirmed to have been killed across the state by fires, while the fate of hundreds remained unknown, indicating that the toll could rise.
Most of the deaths from the fire, called Campfire, are in the town of Paradis and its vicinity. The town, which has been turned into a rubble of 26,000 people, is located at the foot of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, 130 km north of Sacramento, the state capital.
The residents recounted terrifying stories of fleeing the fire, carrying little of their needs, and others fled in cars amid the clouds of smoke and fire, as the flames touched their cars on the roads where abandoned cars were scattered.
Campfire destroyed about 7,600 homes and 260 commercial properties and more than 5,600 firefighters took part in the firefighting effort, some from remote Washington and Texas states.
The fires have forced a quarter of a million people to flee their homes, and seven shelters have been set up in the Beyot district, three of which have already been filled, authorities said.