At least 24 people have been killed as multiple wildfires continue to ravage South Korea's south-east region.

Most of the victims are in their 60s and 70s, say authorities, adding that some 26 people are injured - with 12 in critical condition - as the deadly wildfires have forced more than 23,000 people to flee their homes.

The "unprecedented" crisis remains critical and is "rewriting the record books for the worst wildfires in our nation's history", said acting president Han Duck-soo.

The fires gutted the 1,300-year-old Gounsa temple in Uiseong city, where many cultural relics were removed and transported to safer ground.

The fires started in Sancheong county on Friday afternoon and later spread to Uiseong county, authorities said.

Fuelled by strong and dry winds, the fires are advancing to the neighbouring counties of Andong, Cheongsong, Yeongyang and Yeongdeok, Yonhap news agency reported.

The Uiseong blaze is spreading at an "unimaginable" scale and speed, Lee Byung-doo, a forest disaster expert at the National Institute of Forest Science, told Reuters.

A firefighting helicopter crashed in the mountains of Uiseong county just after midday on Wednesday, according to authorities, who are investigating the cause.

Thousands of firefighters and about 5,000 military personnel have been deployed to contain multiple blazes, as well as helicopters from the US military stationed in Korea.

'It was like the apocalypse'

On Tuesday, the national fire agency said it had raised the crisis to the highest fire response level, the first time this year such an alert has been issued.

Wildfires are relatively uncommon in South Korea, and related fatalities are rare. The current fires, which have killed 18 people within the past few days, are already the deadliest in the country's history.

About 17,000 hectares (42,000 acres) of forest have also been destroyed, making the fires the third largest in South Korea's history in terms of area.

The blazes raging in the city of Uiseong burned down the Gounsa temple, built in 618 AD, which was one of the largest temples in the province.

A Buddhist architectural structure deemed a national treasure from the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) was also destroyed, forestry authorities confirmed.

A 68-year-old monk said he was "devastated" when he heard that about the destruction of the Gounsa temple.

"We will do our best to restore the function of the temple."

"It was an extremely painful feeling, and I wondered why something like this could happen," Joung-ou told news agency AFP.

In Andong, truck driver Lee Seung-joo said he saw the mountains burn like "literal hell" as he drove by.

"It was like the apocalypse," the 39-year-old said, according to an AFP report.

Elsewewhere in Andong, evacuees who were sheltering at an elementary school were told to leave quickly as the fire was spread by gusty winds.

"The wind was so strong," said 79-year-old Kwon So-han told AFP. "The fire came from the mountain and fell on my house."

At least five people have died in a wildfire in Los Angeles, officials have said, with firefighters now facing new blazes, including one in the city's famous Hollywood Hills.

With firefighters struggling to bring the blazes under control due to strong winds and dry conditions, more than 130,000 people across the wider Los Angeles area are now under evacuation orders.

The new evacuation areas include parts of the Hollywood Hills, where a new fire, dubbed the Sunset Fire, broke out on Wednesday, as well as parts of Santa Monica - famous for its pier.

Los Angeles Fire Department chief Kristin Crowley said on Wednesday that the largest of the fires, the Pacific Palisades blaze to the west of downtown Los Angeles, was now over 15,800 acres "and growing".

Meanwhile, firefighters continue to battle the Hurst Fire, to the north, now at 700 acres, while firefighters from the Los Angeles County continue to battle the Eaton Fire, near to the city of Pasadena, as well as a new blaze near Acton.

Los Angeles County fire chief Anthony Marrone said the five people who were killed all died in the Eaton fire.

At a news conference, Los Angeles' chief of police James McDonnell told reporters: "This is a tragic time in our history here in Los Angeles, but a time where we're really tested and see who we really are.

"It's critical that at these times we be patient, that we come together, that we focus on saving lives and to be able to the very best job we can."

He then urged those under evacuation orders to take them "very seriously", saying they make "the difference between living and not".

Weather forecasters in California are warning fierce winds which fuelled the infernos around Los Angeles are expected to pick up again this week, as fire crews on the ground race to make progress controlling three wildfires.

Officials warned that after a weekend of relatively calm winds, the notoriously dry Santa Ana winds would pick up again from Sunday night until Wednesday, reaching speeds of up to 60mph (96km/h).

Ahead of the wind's uptick, some progress has been made in stopping the spread of the deadly Palisades and Eaton fires, which are burning on opposite ends of the city. Local firefighters are being assisted by crews from eight other states, as well as Canada and Mexico, who continue to arrive.

The LA County medical examiner updated the death toll on Sunday to 24, while officials said earlier at least another 16 remain missing.

Sixteen of the dead were found in the Eaton fire zone, while eight were found in the Palisades area.

Three conflagrations continue to burn around Los Angeles.

The largest fire is the Palisades, which has now burnt through more than 23,000 acres and is 13% contained.

The Eaton fire is the second biggest and has burnt through more than 14,000 acres. It is 27% contained.

The Hurst fire has grown to 799 acres and has been almost fully contained.

The wildfires are on track to be among the costliest in US history.

On Sunday, private forecaster Accuweather increased its preliminary estimate of financial losses from the blazes to between $250bn-$275bn.