California authorities have confirmed at least 5 deaths and 140,000 people evacuated from the Los Angeles fires but in many areas the fires continue unabated. Immediate evacuation was also ordered in Hollywood and Biden canceled his visit to Italy to manage the emergency.
The death toll from the devastating disasters is worsening fires that hit Los Angeles and its county in California by destroying homes and public buildings. The authorities confirmed at least 5 dead and 140 thousand evacuated but in many areas the fires continue unabated. The flames also involved the famous Hollywood Hill and pushed Biden to cancel his trip to Italy to manage the emergency situation.
For days now the flames have been out of control despite the desperate work of the firefighters and thousands of people lost their homes, cars and everything in their possession after being forced to flee. There are currently as many as six fires burning in Los Angeles and neighboring Ventura County and almost all are out of control.
Evacuation ordered in Hollywood
The first fire, that of Pacific Palisades which broke out on Tuesday morning, has become the most destructive in the history of Los Angeles and continues to advance, bringing destruction and death. The latest fire, however, broke out right in the Hollywood Hills and required new ones evacuations also in the areas of cinema celebrities’ homes. “Immediate threat to life. This is a legal order to leave immediately. The area is legally closed to the public,” the Los Angeles Fire Department said as it released a map showing sections of the popular movie theater district. The order to evacuate Hollywood after a fire broke out a few hundred meters from the famous Hollywood Boulevard.
Los Angeles in flames, the fires cause 2 deaths and tens of thousands of people evacuated
In Los Angeles there is no water to put out the flames
The flames, driven by the fires and the dry season, advanced very quickly without giving the inhabitants of Los Angeles time to adequately prepare. Many fought to save their homes which however were destroyed and reduced to a pile of smoking rubble. The Los Angeles firefighters themselves could do little faced with such a large and powerful fire front and have announced that they are experiencing a shortage of water, so much so that they are also having to resort to water from swimming pools and ponds in the area. This is also why local authorities have issued a non-potable water advisory in many areas of Los Angeles County. The alert recommends “only using boiled or bottled water for drinking and cooking until further notice.”
Widespread power outages
Electricity outages also continue to affect the Los Angeles region and the emergency is at its highest throughout the area. The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) will cancel classes and will close the campus for two days while the Oscar nominations postponed until January 19.
Biden cancels visit to Italy
Meanwhile, the White House has announced that the president Joe Biden canceled his trip to Italy scheduled for today, due to the fires that are devastating the Los Angeles area. Biden “has decided to cancel” the visit “to focus in the coming days on managing the overall federal response” to the emergency, spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre said. The US president’s trip to Italy was scheduled for January 9th to 12th.
“I approved Governor Newsom’s request to declare a state of natural disaster and I have ordered federal assistance to supplement the efforts response in the areas affected by the fires, guaranteeing the affected communities and survivors immediate access to funds and resources”, said the US President.
Source: www.fanpage.it
