The massive Palisades Fire broke out in Los Angeles on Tuesday afternoon, prompting mandatory evacuations affecting tens of thousands of people and highway closures. Later Tuesday, the Eaton Fire broke out in the foothills of Pasadena on the other side of Los Angeles County.

A state of emergency has been declared in Southern California as fierce wildfires fueled by powerful Santa Ana winds continue to rage. Thousands of residents have been forced to evacuate their homes as flames tear through coastal communities,

The massive wildfires at the plush towns of California's Los Angeles, housing celebrity residences, has killed five people, burnt down thousands of structures and evacuated thousands. The developments prompted outgoing US President Biden to cancel his last foreign trip.