DISASTERS
Death toll climbs in California wildfires
October 13, 2017 - The number of people confirmed dead in wildfires sweeping northern California’s wine region has climbed to 31, making it the deadliest week of wildfires in state history. Hundreds of people remain missing.
With 3,500 homes and businesses incinerated, the so-called North Bay fires also rank among the most destructive.
The flames have scorched more than 190,000 acres (770 sq km), an area nearly the size of New York City, reducing whole neighbourhoods in the city of Santa Rosa to ash and smouldering ruins dotted with charred trees and burned-out cars.