THE death toll from the wildfires ravaging the Californian city of Los Angeles in the United States, rose to 16 on Saturday.

This came as crews continued to battle to cut off the spreading blazes before potentially strong winds returned.

Five of the deaths were attributed to the Palisades Fire and 11 resulted from the Eaton Fire, the Los Angeles County coroner’s office said in a statement on Saturday evening.

Officials said they expected that figure to rise as teams with cadaver dogs conduct systematic grid searches in levelled neighbourhoods. 

Authorities have established a centre where people can report the missing.

Fire authorities reported on Saturday that the Palisades, Eaton, Kenneth and Hurst fires had consumed about 62 square miles. 

The Palisades and Eaton fires alone accounted for 59 square miles.

In a briefing posted online on Saturday evening, Michael Traum of the California Office of Emergency Services said that 150,000 people in Los Angeles County were under evacuation orders, with more than 700 people taking refuge in nine shelters.

Crews from California and nine other states are part of the ongoing response that includes 1,354 fire engines, 84 aircraft and more than 14,000 personnel, including newly arrived firefighters from Mexico, he said.

Mr Traum said: “Weather conditions are still critical and another round of strong winds is expected starting on Monday.”