A wildfire has erupted north of Los Angeles, forcing approximately 50,000 people to evacuate or remain on high alert under evacuation warnings. The affected region is still grappling with the aftermath of a series of deadly fires that have caused widespread destruction and loss of life in recent weeks.

Thousands of Southern California residents have been ordered to evacuate their homes as a new wildfire, named the Hughes Fire, erupted north of Los Angeles, rapidly spreading over an area of nearly 41 square kilometers (16 square miles) within hours.

The fire is burning near Lake Castaic, a popular recreational area located about 64 kilometers (40 miles) away from the still-uncontained Eaton and Palisades fires. These two earlier blazes have been raging since January 7.

According to Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna, more than 31,000 people have been instructed to evacuate, while an additional 20,000 remain in zones under evacuation warnings. Despite the intensity of the Hughes Fire, there have been no immediate reports of property damage.

Authorities temporarily closed part of Highway 5, a key transportation corridor, due to the fire. Strong winds continue to escalate the risk, making firefighting efforts more challenging.

Meanwhile, progress has been reported in combating the Eaton and Palisades fires. As of Wednesday, the Eaton Fire near Pasadena is 95% contained, and the Palisades Fire on the western edge of Los Angeles is nearly 70% under control.

The Eaton and Palisades fires have already caused extensive devastation, destroying or damaging over 15,000 buildings and claiming the lives of at least 28 people. More than 20 individuals remain missing.

Experts attribute the increasing frequency and intensity of such wildfires to human-induced climate change, primarily driven by the burning of fossil fuels.