At least 24 people are believed to be dead and more than a dozen others remain unaccounted for as multiple wildfires, fueled by severe drought conditions and strong Santa Ana winds, continue to rage across Southern California, leaving fire crews scrambling to contain the historic destruction.

The Palisades Fire – the largest blaze – has killed at least five people. The Eaton Fire, above Altadena in northern Los Angeles County, has killed at least six people and burned more than 21 square miles, leaving apocalyptic scenes of destruction.

At least 16 people are dead, according to the local medical examiner. More than 100,000 people remain under evacuation orders as of Saturday morning. Huge swathes of the city have been devastated. The fires have already burned across more than 35,000 acres in California's largest city.