40 people die, hundreds still missing after wildfire in California

Forty people have died and hundreds are still missing in California after six days of wildfires that have devastated the countryside and destroyed thousands of homes.

California's governor said it was "one of the greatest tragedies" the state had ever faced.     

More than 10,000 firefighters are battling 16 remaining blazes.

Winds of up to 70 kilometres per hour brought them to new towns, forcing many more people to evacuate.

One of the worst‑affected areas is the city of Santa Rosa, in the Sonoma wine region, where 3,000 people were evacuated last Sunday.

It is the most lethal outbreak of wildfires in the state's history.

More than 100,000 people have been displaced and whole neighbourhoods have been reduced to ash.

Source: BBC