California Wildfire: Death toll rises to 42

Moscow(Sputnik) The number of people who have lost their lives in wildfires in the US western state of California increased to 42 on Tuesday, Sheriff of the Butte County Kory Honea said at a briefing.

On Monday, the death toll reportedly stood at 31. US President Donald Trump said earlier in the day that he had approved a Major Disaster Declaration for the wildfire-ravaged state of California, thus making those affected eligible for state help in housing and home repair.

“As of today, an additional 13 human remains have been recovered, which bring the total number to 42. If I understand this is a deadliest wild land fire in history of the United States,” Honea said at a briefing, as quoted by the ABC broadcaster.

Three major fires are currently raging in California, with the Camp Fire hitting its north, and the Woolsey Fire and the Hill Fire hitting its south. The disaster, which started on Thursday and quickly spread across the state, has already destroyed about 7,000 buildings and devastated more than 42,000 hectares of the state’s territory.