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Devastating Los Angeles fires continue: 24 dead and health emergency

Los Angeles devastation: 24 dead, $250 billion in damages, and over 12 structures destroyed. Health emergency declared. International reinforcements arriving to contain the flames.

Devastating Los Angeles fires continue: 24 dead and health emergency

Los Angeles continues to find itself on its knees facing one of the worst emergencies in California historyThe bushfires, which have been raging for days now, have killed at least 24 people and caused damage estimated at between 250 and 275 billion dollars, making this disaster one of the most destructive on record.

An unprecedented health and environmental emergency

Local authorities have declared a state of health emergency due to unsustainable air conditions.The air is unbreathable” stressed Karen Bass, Mayor of Los Angeles, as firefighters continue to deal with a situation that appears set to get worse.We are facing an explosive growth of fires,” warned the firefighters, now exhausted from days of fighting the flames.

President-elect Donald Trump has promised a visit to Los Angeles, but has not spared criticism of local politicians: “They can’t put out the fires. What’s wrong with them?” A statement that has sparked controversy, especially as the population grapples with the devastating consequences of the catastrophe.

A city without light: thousands without electricity

The fire also had a devastating impact on infrastructure. More than 47 people are without electricity across California, including more than 32 in Los Angeles County alone. The outages were reported by monitoring site PowerOutage.us, highlighting an energy system severely strained by the emergency.

Unprecedented economic damage

According to estimates by AccuWeather, the damage caused by the Los Angeles fires exceeds that of other recent natural disasters, such as the 2023 Maui fires ($13-16 billion) and Hurricane Helene ($225-250 billion). “This is already one of the worst wildfires in California history,” said Jonathan Porter, the company’s chief meteorologist.

International support

Faced with such an emergency, international reinforcements are not lacking and are almost indispensable. Firefighters from Mexico and Canada have arrived in California to support local teams. More than 70 Mexican firefighters have already completed training and joined the containment efforts, while additional Canadian teams have arrived in the city in the last few hours.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also offered help, proposing to send 150 Ukrainian firefighters, in response to a post by Trump on X (formerly Twitter).

The main fires currently burning

Authorities are currently trying to contain three major fires:

  • Palisades Fire: contained at 13%, has already devastated over 9.300 hectares.
  • Eaton Fire: contained at 27%, with a balance of over 5.700 hectares burned.
  • Hurst Fire: 89% contained, but still affected 323 hectares.

Crime and political tensions

The crisis has not only caused environmental devastation, but also an escalation in crime. Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman is expected to announce charges today against a group of people suspected of looting homes during the emergency.

Furthermore, the situation became further politicized after Governor Gavin Newsom accused Elon Musk of “encouraging looting,” in response to posts on X insinuating that Newsom had “decriminalized” such crimes.

An uncertain future

The city of Los Angeles is anxiously looking ahead to the next few days as firefighters continue to race against time to contain the flames. With more than 12 structures destroyed and tens of thousands of people without power, the aftermath of this tragedy will be felt for years to come, leaving an indelible mark on the history of California and its people.

Continuano gli incendi devastanti di Los Angeles: il bilancio di 24 morti e l'emergenza sanitaria

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