The disaster claims its first victims. Two people are dead, Los Angeles police said Wednesday, as firefighters continue to battle a massive wildfire in an upscale neighborhood overlooking the US west coast city, forcing thousands of people to flee to flee as hurricane-force winds pose a “mortal danger,” according to authorities.
The fire broke out late Tuesday morning in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood, populated with multi-million dollar villas where Hollywood celebrities live, in the mountains northwest of the city. Panicked residents had to abandon their vehicles on one of the only roads entering and exiting the area, fleeing on foot from the fire which has already ravaged nearly 1,200 ha. 1,000 buildings have already been destroyed, according to the authorities.
More than 1,400 firefighters are battling the flames and hundreds are on the way, California Governor Gavin Newsom said. American media also reported a firefighter among the injured.
About 30,000 people are under evacuation orders and wind gusts of up to 95 km/h are expected to continue until Thursday, according to authorities.
> More information to come on Le Parisien…
