Devastating Wildfires in Los Angeles: 25 Lives Lost and 92,000 Evacuated
Click to start listening
Synopsis
Los Angeles is facing devastating wildfires, resulting in 25 deaths and 92,000 mandatory evacuations. With severe drought and high winds, firefighters are battling to contain the flames while power outages affect over 80,000 residents. The situation is dire, prompting police actions and delays in the Academy Awards nominations.
Key Takeaways
- 92,000 people under evacuation orders.
- 25 confirmed deaths due to wildfires.
- Over 12,300 structures destroyed.
- High winds pose further risks for fire spread.
- 34 arrests made related to wildfire chaos.
- Academy Awards nominations delayed.
Los Angeles, Jan 14 (NationPress) Around 92,000 individuals are currently under mandatory evacuation orders, with 25 fatalities reported due to the wildfires sweeping through the western United States. Additionally, 89,000 others are facing evacuation warnings, as stated by Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna.
As multiple wildfires rage across the Los Angeles region, at least 25 people have lost their lives, and several others remain unaccounted for.
The intense wildfires in Los Angeles County, exacerbated by severe drought conditions and strong winds, have burned more than 40,500 acres and destroyed over 12,300 structures as of Monday, according to reports from Xinhua.
The largest blaze, Palisades Fire, was only 14% contained, while the Eaton Fire, the second largest, was at 33% containment as of Monday morning, as reported by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire).
In a concerning turn, over 80,000 customers in California are currently without power, as Southern California Edison begins rolling blackouts in various parts of Southern California ahead of an impending wind event set to commence on Tuesday.
Los Angeles is preparing for an even more dire situation as high winds are predicted to create extremely hazardous weather conditions across coastal Southern California.
Thousands of firefighters have been actively combating the wildfires in Los Angeles County since the flames ignited last Tuesday.
The US National Weather Service (NWS) has forecasted high winds to return from Monday through Wednesday, with gusts reaching up to 70 miles per hour, leading to extremely dangerous fire weather conditions in coastal Southern California.
The NWS has issued a red flag warning for parts of Santa Barbara, Ventura, and Los Angeles counties through Wednesday, indicating heightened fire danger.
California Governor Gavin Newsom expressed grave concerns, stating that these fires could become the worst natural disaster in U.S. history in terms of costs and scale, with search and rescue operations underway.
As a result of the chaos, Los Angeles police have made 34 arrests in areas affected by wildfires due to incidents of burglary, looting, illegal drone activities, and violations of curfews, according to Sheriff Luna.
Furthermore, the announcement for the 2025 Academy Awards nominations has been delayed once again due to the ongoing wildfires, as confirmed by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
In light of the active fires, the academy has decided to extend the voting period and push back the nominations announcement to January 23.
