By Claire Moses
As of Monday, at least 23 individuals remain unaccounted for in connection with the Palisades and Eaton fires, nearly a week following the outbreak of catastrophic fires in Los Angeles.
Authorities have reported that up to 24 individuals are confirmed deceased, with more than 100,000 residents displaced from their homes.
By Monday morning, the confirmed count of those missing included 17 individuals in the vicinity of the Eaton fire near Pasadena, and six near the Malibu area affected by the Palisades fire.
“This figure is likely to change as we gain more insights,” stated Nicole Nishida, a representative for the Los Angeles sheriff’s office, in an email. The sheriff’s office has not disclosed specific numbers of those reporting missing loved ones. However, Nishida noted, “sadly, that number goes up daily.”
People are also utilizing online platforms to search for missing loved ones.
Among those searching were friends of Kim Winiecki, a 77-year-old resident of Altadena who had not been seen since the Eaton fire began. After several days of sharing posts and slowly losing hope, Winiecki’s friends discovered on Monday that she had passed away in her residence, as noted by Jeannette McMahon, a friend living just six minutes away.
Winiecki had lived in the area for approximately 35 years, McMahon shared. “Her home was her sanctuary. It was her everything,” she reflected.
Authorities have cautioned that both the number of missing persons and the death toll may continue to escalate. Besides those reported missing to the sheriff’s office, the American Red Cross indicated over the weekend that it had received nearly 400 requests for family reunification through digital submissions and phone inquiries.
The organization also mentioned that about 900 individuals affected by the fires have sought refuge in Red Cross shelters throughout Los Angeles.
Officials are still investigating thousands of structures that have faced damage or destruction due to the fires, employing cadaver dogs in their search, and are still discovering remains, remarked Robert Luna, the Los Angeles County sheriff, during a press conference on Monday.
This is also a contributing factor to why many are still unable to return to assess their properties within the mandatory evacuation zones, Luna added: “We have personnel searching diligently for the remains of your neighbors.”
