US: California wildfire death toll rises to 79

NEW YORK

The death toll from the Camp wildfire in the U.S. state of California has risen to 79, the local sheriff said on Monday.

Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea said at a news conference that at least 699 people remain missing and nearly 12,000 structures were destroyed in the fire.

Thousands of firefighters struggle to contain the Camp Fire in northern California which has spread to an area of 611 square kilometers (379.7 square miles).

the fire in southern California continues to blaze.

At least three people died and 450 houses were seriously damaged in southern California.

Reporting by Dildar Baykan by Meryem Goktas