WARNING: DISTRESSING CONTENT – Wildfires have devastated southern California this week, with 70,000 people said to have been evacuated, over 1,000 structures destroyed and five people reported to have died

A TV network has been slammed after airing footage of what appears to be human remains – bosses however have hit back.

The Weather Channel in the US have been documenting wildfires in California and viewers claim that they had saw human remains. Fires started in parts of Los Angeles on Tuesday and have devastated the state in the days since. The death toll is said to have reached five so far and over 1,000 structures are already believed to have been destroyed in the region.

There’s been much coverage of the situation amid residents, including some celebrities, being forced to flee their homes. It has now been suggested the Weather Channel may have aired footage of human remains in a recent segment – though the channel has since dismissed the suggestion in a statement to the Mirror.

A TikTok video, which purportedly shows coverage of the wildfires by the Weather Channel, has been circulating on X, formerly known as Twitter. The video shows what appears to be a destroyed property and it’s suggested in it that part of a skeleton – including a skull – is visible at one point as the camera zooms into some of the rubble at the location. It is not clear whether they were human remains.

Coverage of the wildfires in California this week sparked concern among viewers on social media ( 
Image:
X)

There’s been concern that a video, purportedly aired by the Weather Channel, may show human remains in the rubble of a property ( 
Image:
X)

Sharing the clip on X, one account tweeted on Thursday morning: “Weather channel shows the remains of someone who lost their life in the Palisades fire. Horrifying.” Another wrote: “It appears the weather channel wasn’t aware what it was airing? If it is what we think it is, that is so sad.”

A third person commented: “I’m confused as well. If it turns out to be what we think, it’s incredibly sad and concerning.” Another simply responded “horrendous” to one of the posts on the platform. Whilst someone else posted: “Did the @weatherchannel just show a charred skeleton in the rubble of the Los Angeles fires without realizing it?”

Some viewers have however dismissed the suggestion that it showed potentially human or animal remains. One person wrote in their response to a post about the footage: “Burnt humans/animals don’t look like that at all.” Sharing their thoughts, another viewer said: “I don’t think that’s what everyone thinks it is.”

A spokesperson for the Weather Channel told the Mirror: “These social media claims are inaccurate and completely false. We have 100% confirmed that the video shows debris from the aftermath of a house fire and nothing else. The time wasted on erroneous news reporting on this false social media claim is disappointing given that Californians are still dealing with the trauma and devastation of the ongoing SoCal wildfires and are seeking factual information about how to keep them and their families safe as this tragic situation continues to develop.”

The devastating wildfires have swept through southern California this week, including in the Pacific Palisades, which is home to a number of celebrities. More than 70,000 people have been evacuated in recent days amid the fires.

California Governor Gavin Newsom expressed gratitude to the emergency services for their response to the wildfires in a post on X on Wednesday. It read: “To the heroes, firefighters, and first responders battling these fires in Los Angeles: Your sacrifice and determination inspire the entire state. California is deeply grateful for your dedication and service.”