Death toll from California wildfires rises to 63, over 630 people missing - police

Agencies

November 16, 2018

Sacramento, Nov 16: The US authorities have recovered the remains of seven more victims of the deadly wildfires in the western state of California, bringing the death toll from the blaze to 63, while 631 people are still missing, Butte county Sheriff Kory Honea said.

On Wednesday, the sheriff said that 130 people were missing and 56 people were killed in the fires.

"The number of people who we are still looking for and who are unaccounted for increased to 631. This number has increased by 501 people [since Wednesday] ... Tonight, it is again my very sad duty to report that we have located seven additional human remains ... Of the total number, which is now 63, we have tentative identifications on 53," Honea said at a press conference broadcast on the Butte county Fire Department's Facebook page.

According to the sheriff, since Wednesday, the authorities accounted for 227 people who were believed to have been missing.

California has been struggling with several huge fires, which have already destroyed over 8,000 structures, since last week. One of the blazes, the so-called Camp Fire, has been dubbed by many as the most destructive fire in the state’s history.

Comments

Add new comment

Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.

US attempted 93 ‘regime change’ operations across the world since 1946, admits envoy

News Network

December 7,2025

Since 1946, the United States has attempted 93 coups or “regime change” operations across the world — including two in Iran, US Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack has admitted.

Speaking to the UAE-based IMI Media Group, in remarks published by The National, Barrack said Washington tried twice to overthrow the Iranian government but failed both times.

“For (Trump) then to be imputed with regime change — we had two regime changes in Iran already. Neither one worked. So I think wisely leave it to the region to solve,” said Barrack, who also serves as the US ambassador to Turkey.

His comments come six months after the US joined Israel in airstrikes against Iran during ongoing indirect nuclear negotiations between Tehran and Washington.

On June 13, Israel launched an attack on Iran that killed at least 1,064 people and hit civilian infrastructure. Days later, the United States targeted three nuclear facilities — Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan — in what Iran called a clear violation of international law. Iranian retaliation eventually forced a halt to the assault on June 24.

Barrack further claimed that US President Donald Trump and Foreign Secretary Marco Rubio are “not into regime change” and prefer a regional approach driven by Middle Eastern countries themselves. According to him, regional dialogue and non-interference by outside powers offer a more durable path forward.

He added that Washington is still open to an agreement with Tehran if Iranian authorities show “seriousness” and willingness to engage constructively.

However, Iran maintains the US has not shown readiness for meaningful talks. In an interview with Japan’s Kyodo News, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said negotiations could advance only if Washington acknowledges Iran’s right to peaceful nuclear energy and lifts unilateral sanctions.

Comments