
AccuWeather has estimated that the ongoing California wildfires have caused economic damages and losses exceeding $50 billion.
Described as one of the worst fires in the state’s history, the wildfires have claimed at least two lives, destroyed hundreds of buildings, and placed significant strain on firefighting resources and water supplies since they began on Tuesday.
Preliminary estimates from AccuWeather suggest the losses could range from $52 billion to $57 billion, with the potential for the figure to rise if the fires spread to more densely populated areas.
Jonathan Porter, Chief Meteorologist at AccuWeather, warned, “If a large number of additional structures are destroyed in the coming days, this could become the worst wildfire in modern California history in terms of both the number of structures burned and economic loss.”
Strong winds have further complicated firefighting efforts, exacerbating the fires in Los Angeles and surrounding regions.
Authorities are closely monitoring the situation as crews continue to battle the blazes.