the worst wildfires in the history of los angeles. this is what they have left behind — whole neighbourhoods razed to the ground, and they are still burning. thousands of buildings have been destroyed — almost 180,000 people have been ordered to leave their homes. among them the popstar from take that, mark 0wen, and his family, driven to safety by emergency services. some residents start returning to their burnt—out homes to pick through the ashes of their lives. sobbing i just wanted to see if anything's left. we had everything, like, the sentimental things. like, my mom passed away — i had only a few things of hers left. while will arrive in the wreckage of

palisades. i know the rules. the shelter run by the red cross just outside one of the worst affected areas were last night they provided food and accommodation for more than 200 people. also tonight — the government defends its handling of the uk's economy after the mac files to its lowest level can go to the dara the poll files. —— the pound falls. a turbulent day on the markets sees the pound fall to its lowest level in more than a year against the dollar. as flu cases spiral — your voice your bbc news — we hear the story of 86—year—old mary lamerton, who died after spending four days on a trolley in a&e. to search for the fatal stabbing of kelyan bokassa. —— police to search.

—— police continue to search. good evening. two massive wildfires continue to burn out of control around los angeles with more high winds forecast into tomorrow. almost 180,000 people have been ordered to leave their homes so far. this is what the flames are leaving behind — entire neighbourhoods completely destroyed, everything gone, only the charred remains of trees have been left standing. the first fire to erupt was on tuesday in the pacific palisades neighbourhood. it spread rapidly — look at how fast it moved in just five hours. it now covers more than 17,000 acres of land. that blaze alone is now one of the most destructive natural disasters in the history of la. there are still five fires alight around the city — two of them the palisades and hurst fires are 0% contained. you can see from this

timelapse of the palisades fire just how quickly it spread fanned by hurricane force winds. and this is another neighbourhood, altadena — this satellitle imagery shows the homes and buildings, street after street, completley engulfed. five people are known to have died but the la sheriff says that number will rise. 0ur correspondent emma vardy is in there. fire crews are a into their third day fighting fires friends and authorities are beginning to look into what started them. arson investigators we are told are now part of this but authorities have not drawn any firm conclusions yet. today the growth of the fires has slowed down but still many parts of the city will never look the same again.

properties in both here turn to show. —— properties turn into a show. fire is burning right across los angeles county. this grow and spread has stretched county. this grow and spread has stretche: . , stretched firefighting crews -- the scale and the _ stretched firefighting crews -- the scale and the spread. _ stretched firefighting crews -- the scale and the spread. both - stretched firefighting crews -- the scale and the spread. both in - stretched firefighting crews -- the scale and the spread. both in the l scale and the spread. both in the ground and in the air. 16,000 acres and counting consumed by the inferno. 0ne street, filmed by a local resident moments before he left. i thought i could get some extra stuff we didn't take and having seen

it, the whole street is gone. it is like a war zone. we have so many memories here that cannot be replaced. i had these great old pictures of my grandfather from world war ii, both grandfathers, i was going to get it framed under glass like they are lost. so many things lost forever. i know we are safe, but i don't understand. the scale of this disaster is clear to see. this is pacific palisades, block after block blanket of destruction. more than 1000 buildings burned in this community alone. emergency services unable to save them. had everything, like, the sentimental things. had everything, like, the sentimentalthings. my had everything, like, the sentimental things. my first night passed away and i had only a few things of her life. my wedding dress, ourwedding things of her life. my wedding dress, our wedding album.

everything. we havejust what dress, our wedding album. everything. we have just what you are wearing. we have been wearing the same things for the last tee—mac days. the same things for the last tee-mac da s. , , . ., the same things for the last tee-mac da s. _ u, ., . days. fuelled by hurricane force winds these _ days. fuelled by hurricane force winds these fires _ days. fuelled by hurricane force winds these fires have - days. fuelled by hurricane force winds these fires have struck i days. fuelled by hurricane force winds these fires have struck at | days. fuelled by hurricane forcel winds these fires have struck at a vulnerable time. la hasn't seen any significant rainfall for months. abandoned neighbourhoods are now fall prey to crime.— fall prey to crime. saranac emergency _ fall prey to crime. saranac emergency we _ fall prey to crime. saranac emergency we have - fall prey to crime. saranac emergency we have all. fall prey to crime. saranac i emergency we have all seen individuals targeting vulnerable communities by burglarising and limiting — communities by burglarising and limiting homes. this is simply unacceptable —— in the light of the emergency. i'd like as dawn came in the palisades revealed the grim reality— the palisades revealed the grim reali , . , reality fire had left behind -- storm came. _ reality fire had left behind -- storm came. miles _ reality fire had left behind -- storm came. miles and - reality fire had left behind -- storm came. miles and miles reality fire had left behind -- i storm came. miles and miles of reality fire had left behind -- - storm came. miles and miles of this, at a shot at the devastation. communities just at a shot at the devastation. communitiesjust vanished, mussel communities just vanished, mussel ghost communitiesjust vanished, mussel ghost towns and one stream homes turned to dust. —— turned into ghost towns. no one is immune. mansion is

now ash. the homes ofjennifer aniston, adam sandler and paris hilton among those evacuated. this was formed by the wife of take that star mark 0wen as they escape through the flames. some returning to the ruins to see what remains. a scene that will be repeated in this ravaged city over the coming days. emma vardy, bbc news, los angeles. president biden hasjust president biden has just described the la fires as the most devastating in california's history. have a look at these before and after images of the devastation the flames have left behind. this was someone's home in altadena and this is what it looks like now. north of there, the pasadena jewish temple and center has been completely gutted. and this business in the pacific palisades — where the largest fire has been burning — was not spared either. 0ur correspondentjohn sudworth has

been to the palisades and spoken to some of those people who have been affected. late into the night, we watch one of america's wealthiest neighbourhoods burn. the flames so intense the fire crews are powerless to stop them. so if i very quickly take my mask off, the air is absolutely thick with smoke. the fire crews here tell us they have a shortage of water. and in many instances they're having to stand and watch these properties burn. it is a losing battle. they're using what little they're using what little they have sparingly, they have sparingly, trying to contain the spread. trying to contain the spread. defying the evacuation orders, some residents defying the evacuation orders, some residents are defending their own homes. are defending their own homes. with all the surrounding with all the surrounding properties burning, i helped come through here. properties burning, i helped tony and his neighbours, scooping water out of tony and his neighbours, scooping water out of the swimming pool and dousing the swimming pool and dousing the flames at their boundary. the flames at their boundary. since 1993 i've seen a couple since 1993 i've seen a couple of fires, but nothing like this. of fires, but nothing like this. i wouldn't see this in my nightmare. i wouldn't see this in my nightmare. i never thought i would i never thought i would

come through here. david was hoping his home might have survived, but the whole neighbourhood has gone. and with it, his house too. i would have thought i'd be seeing more planes flying over with water. i mean, there appears to have beenjust two. i mean, in california, are there not, like, 20 or 30 of them, that they could have got you already? i would have thought the firemen would, like, take a stand on a certain area. maybe they did and i'm just not seeing it. but... a wealth and privilege are no protection from this disaster. with the ordinary human defences rendered futile in the face of its devastating force. john sudworth, bbc news, pacific palisades.

nearly 180,000 people have been told to evacuate, and a further 200,000 la residents are under evacuation warnings — meaning they may have to flee at a moment's notice. what happens to all those who've lost their homes, lost everything? where do they go? many have had to make their way to evacution centres, like this one in pasadena. well, john sudworth is at another centre in westwood near beverly hills. john. sophie, this particular evacuation centre has taken more than 200 people, sleeping

centre has taken more than 200 people, slee none of else to turn. none of these people is moreno, from ukraine, who only arrived in america four once i go as part of a programme that has brought thousands of ukrainians to america. what happens to you yesterday, third night? it what happens to you yesterday, third ni . ht? . , what happens to you yesterday, third ni. ht? ., , ., , what happens to you yesterday, third ni ht? ., . , ., night? it was a windy morning, i loved from _ night? it was a windy morning, i loved from my — night? it was a windy morning, i loved from my home _ night? it was a windy morning, i loved from my home to - night? it was a windy morning, i loved from my home to go - night? it was a windy morning, i loved from my home to go to i night? it was a windy morning, i i loved from my home to go to work night? it was a windy morning, i - loved from my home to go to work -- loved from my home to go to work —— what _ loved from my home to go to work —— what happened yesterday, followed? i swear i_ what happened yesterday, followed? i swear i would my home but i didn't think— swear i would my home but i didn't think it _ swear i would my home but i didn't think it was — swear i would my home but i didn't think it was something big so when i tried to _ think it was something big so when i tried to come home after five hours isaw— tried to come home after five hours i saw the _ tried to come home after five hours i saw the roads were closed and so many— i saw the roads were closed and so many fire _ i saw the roads were closed and so many fire department and police cars, _ many fire department and police cars. and — many fire department and police cars. and i— many fire department and police cars, and i started to worry. then i 'ust cars, and i started to worry. then i just came back to santa monica pier to wetch— just came back to santa monica pier to watch what happened because everything was in smoke, and i saw the fire _ everything was in smoke, and i saw the fire flames, and they were so bil the fire flames, and they were so big and _ the fire flames, and they were so big and then i saw the place where

my house — big and then i saw the place where my house was, it was burning, and everything — my house was, it was burning, and everything was burning, cars, nature, — everything was burning, cars, nature, houses, i my house, sol 'ust nature, houses, i my house, sol just lost— nature, houses, i my house, sol just lost everything because ijust went to _ just lost everything because ijust went to work like that and i don't have _ went to work like that and i don't have anything, documents, nothing. joel it— have anything, documents, nothing. joel it is— have anything, documents, nothing. joel it is very terrible, terrible story— joel it is very terrible, terrible story -- — joel it is very terrible, terrible story -- so— joel it is very terrible, terrible story —— so it is a terrible state. you _ story —— so it is a terrible state. you have — story —— so it is a terrible state. you have only been in america four months, you came here escaping the horror of the war in ukraine. what will happen to you now?— horror of the war in ukraine. what will happen to you now? actually, i don't know — will happen to you now? actually, i don't know but _ will happen to you now? actually, i don't know but i _ will happen to you now? actually, i don't know but i can _ will happen to you now? actually, i don't know but i can only _ will happen to you now? actually, i don't know but i can only say - will happen to you now? actually, i don't know but i can only say that l will happen to you now? actually, i don't know but i can only say that i | don't know but i can only say that i will not _ don't know but i can only say that i will not give — don't know but i can only say that i will not give up. i will try to move on and _ will not give up. i will try to move on and start— will not give up. i will try to move on and start my life again.- on and start my life again. that's it. on and start my life again. that's it- marina — on and start my life again. that's it. marina thank you _ on and start my life again. that's it. marina thank you for - on and start my life again. that's it. marina thank you for talking i on and start my life again. that's| it. marina thank you for talking to us and we wish you the best in difficult circumstances. we have seen it all today, volunteers turning up bringing food and supplies. if a disaster like this ever done like everybody in this

city knows someone affected. studio: john, thank you. there have been some incredible stories of rescues and bravery as people fled their homes. and many neighbourhoods now look like this — completely deserted for block after block. many people who escaped have talked of the speed with which the fire spread, including aaron sampson who helped this father—in—law get out. here is their story. we've just been evacuated. we have just been evacuated from this good samaritan's card. we are having to walk and this is crazy. a fire right outside our car. not bad though, because my dad. my father—in—law has parkinson's and can burn or move. this was a heroic effort on his part. saranac which way can i go? i went outside and saw smoke and fire near my father's house had to go but we didn't have a car. by

circumstance, we had no car in the house. i ran up and down the street where he was,, finally found a neighbour willing to swim by and pick us up. at that point i grabbed his medicine, the only thing i could think to grab. at that point we jumped in this car, maybe we had never met, jeff, salt of the earth, saved our lives. as we were driving down there were fires on both sides of the car. we are driving, suddenly seeing fires, you could feel the heat on the fires were getting closer and at that pointjust being stuck, surrounded by fire, the policeman started driving up the street, screaming, get out of the car! you don't realise how serious you is —— it is. you don't think it is a life—threatening situation. share is a life-threatening situation. are an's sto is a life—threatening situation. are an's story there of escaping with his father.

aaron's story there of escaping with his father. well, in the last few minutes president biden has been speaking about the fires — let's hear what he had to say. so far photos as always, always. this is the most devastating fire in california's history. it is this is the most devastating fire in california's history.— california's history. it is amazing. last niuht california's history. it is amazing. last night are _ california's history. it is amazing. last night are heroes. _ well we can go to emma cardy now in pacific palisades. how do you start rebuilding any of this? ., , ., ., ., , this? people are gradually returning to scenes like _ this? people are gradually returning to scenes like this _ this? people are gradually returning to scenes like this where _ this? people are gradually returning to scenes like this where there - this? people are gradually returning to scenes like this where there is i to scenes like this where there is absolutely nothing for them left. we have been witnessing the wreckage all around us, there is the melted metal of burnt cars, people's possessions on the floor and every now and again a house has been spared, the flames leaving it standing but in abandoned neighbourhoods like this, looting has become an issue. police say they

have made 20 arrests for looting, they are warning people coming back they are warning people coming back they will clamp down on looting seriously. there have been reported five deaths so far in these fires but investigators are currently examining other human remains that have been found in burned—out properties, so that number may rise and whilst this is all story going on in the ground, the questions for political leaders have begun. questions over cuts to fire budgets, whether california was prepared enough for a natural disaster like this because it is clear the road to recovery for la will be a long one. emma vardy, thank you very much for the latest there from california. the government has been defending its handling of the uk's economy, after a turbulent day on the markets saw the pound drop to its lowest level in more than a year and government borrowing cost surge to a 16—year high. the former chancellor, lord hammond, has warned the economy is in a "fragile" state,

but the treasury insists there is no need for an "emergency intervention". with me is our economic editor, faisal islam, and the bbc�*s political editor, chris mason. explain what has been going on. things were looking fragile at breakfast, settling those borrowing costs had gone up again to new 16 year highs for ten year borrowing. but actually, the currency had fallen at the same time. but by late afternoon, those borrowing costs had come down to where they were before and yes, there are some people betting against britain in the economy and others wanting to take the other side 1452 00:17:43,