AsianFin -- Wildfires in Los Angeles have claimed at least 10 lives and destroyed nearly 10,000 homes, with five fires continuing to rage into a third night on Thursday, fueled by powerful desert winds.

The Palisades Fire, located between Santa Monica and Malibu, and the Eaton Fire near Pasadena, have become the most devastating wildfires in the city’s history, burning over 34,000 acres (13,750 hectares) — about 53 square miles — and reducing entire neighborhoods to ash.

The fires have swept through affluent coastal areas, forcing evacuations, including those of Hollywood celebrities, who fled by car and on foot. The number of fatalities rose to 10, according to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner, although no further details were provided. Sheriff Robert Luna expressed concerns that the death toll could increase, adding, “It looks like an atomic bomb dropped in these areas. I don’t expect good news, and we're not looking forward to those numbers."

Damage and economic losses from the wildfires are estimated by private forecaster AccuWeather to be between $135 billion and $150 billion, signaling a long and costly recovery process along with rising homeowners' insurance premiums. Southern California Edison reported receiving notices from insurance companies to preserve evidence related to the Eaton Fire, although no fire agencies have linked the utility to the fire.

Mayor Karen Bass, under criticism from U.S. President-elect Donald Trump and other Republicans over her management of the crisis, vowed to aggressively rebuild the city. "We're already looking ahead to aggressively rebuild the city of Los Angeles," she said.