CALIFORNIA: ‘Devil winds’ continue to wreak havoc as death toll from wildfire increase to 42, over 200 missing

Firefighters have continued to battle blazes at both ends of the state of California as the death toll arising from the deadly inferno has risen from 31 to 42, with 200 others declared missing.

According to reports, 13 more fatalities in burned-over towns were discovered by rescue operatives with most of them found in burned-out cars, the smoldering ruins of their homes, or next to their vehicles, apparently overcome by smoke and flames before they could escape.

“This is truly a tragedy that all Californians can understand and respond to,” Governor Jerry Brown said on Sunday.

Read also: Death toll rises to 7 as tropical storm Florence is predicted to batter eastern US states for days

“It’s a time to pull together and work through these tragedies.”

Scores of residents have been forced to flee the upscale beach community of Malibu in the face of the monster fire storm.

Reports say the inferno was caused by a so-called Camp Fire on a mountain town in California with looting reported in the southern fire area and arrests were made, according to police.

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