Friday, January 10, 2025
Islamabad (UrduPoint News International/ Pakistan Point News - DW Urdu - January 10, 2025) Authorities in California said that about 180,000 people were forced to leave their homes in the city of Los Angeles and surrounding areas due to wildfires. The fierce flames of the fire have destroyed thousands of homes. The Forest Service said that more than 11,750 hectares of land have been burned to ashes so far.
California: Thousands of people evacuated from wildfires
According to authorities, more than ten thousand structures in the Los Angeles area, including many homes, have been burned to ashes in this wildfire.
A credit rating company, Morningstar DBS, says that according to initial estimates, more than eight billion dollars in property damage has been caused.
According to authorities, at least seven people have been confirmed dead. In addition, instructions have been issued to another 200,000 people to leave their homes and leave.
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Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristen Crowley called the Pelosi fire “one of the most devastating natural disasters” in Los Angeles history.
She told reporters that the strong winds that fueled the fire have now subsided somewhat, helping firefighters control the fire and that aerial firefighting operations have resumed.
‘Worst tragedy,’ Biden
US President Joe Biden has called the devastating wildfires the “worst fire” in California’s history.
“This is the most widespread, destructive fire in California’s history,” President Biden said during a special meeting of his administration’s top officials at the White House. He also pledged additional federal funds and resources to help the state deal with the disaster.
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Biden also said he would seek help from Congress to deal with the situation.
He added that lawmakers need to provide more help in dealing with the situation.
Earlier, President-elect Donald Trump criticized the current situation of the Los Angeles fires, saying that the fire could bring the greatest disaster in the history of the United States in terms of its financial costs. Trump wrote in a post on the social media platform 'Truth Social', "This fire is a testament to the incompetence and mismanagement of the current President Biden's administration.
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Meanwhile, Vice President Kamala Harris lamented the fact that many insurance companies have canceled policies for many of those affected.
Biden and Harris cancel their trips
The White House has said that US Vice President Kamala Harris has canceled her upcoming trips to Singapore, Bahrain and Germany due to the wildfires in California.
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The White House said, "In light of the historically severe wildfires in Los Angeles, the Vice President has decided to cancel his and other colleagues' upcoming trips to Singapore, Bahrain and Germany."
Earlier, US President Joe Biden had also canceled his upcoming trip to Italy, where he was scheduled to meet with Pope Francis, Italian President Sergio Mattarella and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
Many Hollywood stars' homes burned
A large number of Hollywood celebrities are among the thousands of people whose homes have been destroyed so far in the Los Angeles wildfires.
Celebrities such as Paris Hilton, Billy Crystal, Cary Elwes, Ricky Lake and Diane Warren have confirmed that their residences have been reduced to ashes by the fires in some key areas of California.
Other stars like Mark Hamill, James Woods and Mandy Moore have said they have had to virtually flee their homes.
The Hollywood film industry has also had to postpone many of its annual events. The Critics’ Choice Awards ceremony has now been moved from January 12 to January 26. The announcement of Oscar nominations next week has already been postponed by two days because of the fires.
Meanwhile, law enforcement officials said three people have been arrested for looting in areas affected by the fires.
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