Catastrophic damage in California as wildfires rage, 31 dead
News Agency
Friday, October 13, 2017, 6:01 PM - Firefighters continue to battle over 20 wildfires raging across Northern California that have killed at least 31 people and destroyed thousands of homes and businesses.
California's wine country north of San Francisco has been hit the hardest.
According to the National Weather Service, winds of up to 100 km/h will contribute to extreme fire behaviour Friday evening into Saturday. More than 77,000 hectares have been scorched so far, an area nearly the size of New York City.
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As of Friday afternoon, over 400 people in Sonoma County are listed as missing. The so-called Tubbs fire in the area has been declared California's deadliest single wildfire since 2003.
Below is an on-the-gound look at some of the devastation so far
A man stands on a roof and surveys damage to a neighborhood destroyed by wildfire in Santa Rosa, California, U.S., October 12, 2017. REUTERS/Jim Urquhart
Area residents walk through a neighborhood destroyed by wildfire in Santa Rosa, California, U.S., October 12, 2017. REUTERS/Jim Urquhart
An aerial view of properties destroyed by the Tubbs Fire in Santa Rosa. REUTERS/Stephen Lam
A sign left by an evacuated resident, fleeing wildfires in the heart of the California's wine country, rests against a fire hydrant in the evacuated town of Calistoga, California, U.S., October 12, 2017. REUTERS/Noel Randewich
Area residents walk through a neighborhood destroyed by wildfire in Santa Rosa, California, U.S., October 12, 2017. REUTERS/Jim Urquhart
An American flag hangs from a tree in a neighborhood destroyed by wildfire in Santa Rosa, California, U.S., October 12, 2017. REUTERS/Jim Urquhart
Firefighters work to contain the Tubbs wildfire outside Calistoga, California, U.S. October 12, 2017. REUTERS/Jim Urquhart
An aerial view of properties destroyed by the Tubbs Fire in Santa Rosa. REUTERS/Stephen Lam
A structure destroyed by wildfire smolders outside Calistoga, California, U.S. October 12, 2017. REUTERS/Jim Urquhart
Firefighters meet to plan the day outside Calistoga, California, U.S. October 12, 2017. REUTERS/Jim Urquhart
An aerial view of properties destroyed by the Tubbs Fire in Santa Rosa. REUTERS/Stephen Lam
