Washington, 12 January 2025 (dpa/MIA) - At least 16 people have died as major wildfires continue to ravage the Los Angeles area in the US state of California, the city's medical examiner said on Saturday.

Eleven of the fatalities are related to the Eaton Fire near Pasadena, and five others to the Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades district. There have been several major fires in the region since Tuesday, but these two are the most severe.

Fire department officials estimate more than 5,300 homes have been destroyed in the Pacific Palisades neighbourhood since Tuesday.

Officials fear more than 7,000 buildings have been destroyed or damaged in the Eaton Fire, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

Fire chief Anthony Marrone warned the fire threat remained high, due to strong winds, dry air and dry vegetation.

California Governor Gavin Newsom said firefighters from Mexico had arrived in Los Angeles, to join the more than 14,000 personnel already battling the flames.

"California is immensely grateful to our neighbors' support in the fight against the wildfires in Los Angeles," he wrote on X.

On Thursday, US President Joe Biden said that the blazes were the most devastating in the history of the western US state, adding that 360,000 people had been evacuated so far.