Updated at 4:20pm: According to the Associated Press, the Tennessee mayor has announced that authorities have recovered three more bodies after the wildfires, bringing the death toll to seven.
BREAKING: Tennessee mayor says authorities have recovered 3 more bodies after wildfires, bringing death toll to 7.
— The Associated Press (@AP) November 30, 2016
Three people have been killed in the devastating wildfires that have engulfed parts of East Tennessee, according to News 13's partner CNN.
Now efforts are underway to access the widespread damage to areas like popular tourist destination Gatlinburg and people can see incredible pictures and videos of what has happened here.
Larry Waters, mayor of Sevier County, has confirmed three deaths in the fire and said emergency crews are still going door to door to search for other other possible casualties.
Around 250 homes and businesses have been damaged or destroyed, and more than 15,000 acres burned.
About half of the 10 square miles city has been impacted by the fire, said Mayor of Gatlinburg Mike Werner.
Residents and visitors had very little time to evacuate from the fast moving flames, some of them barely making it out.
“We finally got in the car and we drove the mountain a little ways and we ran into a tree that was over the road, so we had to turn around,” one evacuee said. “We couldn't see to get back up the mountain. We finally got to the infinity pool and parked there and we just watched a building go down in flames, to the right of us. And then we pulled in front of another building that wasn't on fire, yet. But, the fireman came and got us. I don't know who he was, but I thank him so much.”
Tennessee Department of Transportation public relations director Mark Nagi posted video of the mountain road leading up to the popular Ober Gatlinburg Ski area and amusement park, where you can see the mass destruction.
Plenty of other pictures of the damage are all over social media.
The Westgate Resort was completely overcome by the flames Monday night.
President-elect DonaldTrump tweeted about the fires.
My thoughts and prayers are with the great people of Tennessee during these terrible wildfires. Stay safe!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 29, 2016
AirBnb activated it's urgent accommodations, which allows users to offer their places up for free for the thousands of people displaced by a disaster.