AA / Istanbul / Alperen Aktas and Fatma Zehra Solmaz
A large fire has forced at least 30,000 people to evacuate in Los Angeles, California, as authorities warn that worsening winds could intensify the flames even further.
According to the Los Angeles Fire Department, the fire, which broke out Tuesday morning in the coastal neighborhood of Pacific Palisades, quickly grew.
Driven by winds reaching 64 kilometers per hour (40 miles per hour), the fire ravaged 200 acres in a matter of hours before expanding to nearly 3,000 acres by the evening.
A total of 2,921 acres have been consumed by the flames, which pose an imminent threat to more than 10,000 homes. Authorities ordered the evacuation of around 30,000 residents from affected areas.
Vice President Kamala Harris said in a statement that she had been briefed on the devastating fires and the coordinated efforts to bring them under control.
She urged residents in affected areas to remain vigilant, follow instructions from authorities and evacuate immediately if asked.
“President (Joe) Biden and I are committed to ensuring that no community faces this disaster alone,” she stressed. “We have already mobilized federal resources to help contain the fires, provide air support and begin assisting those affected. »
-Harris, a former state senator, added that as a “proud daughter of California,” she is aware of the effects of the fires on her neighbors and communities across the state.
“We are far from out of the woods,” California Governor Gavin Newsom told reporters, noting that the state had sent 110 fire trucks to Southern California in anticipation of high winds.
Los Angeles firefighters reported several injuries, including burn victims. A firefighter suffered a serious head injury while battling the flames. She was treated at the scene before being transported to a local hospital for further evaluation.
Forecasters warned of even stronger winds overnight, which could make the situation worse. Residents have been urged to follow evacuation orders and remain prepared as the area faces what officials are calling “extreme fire danger.”
The National Weather Service issued red flag alerts for Los Angeles and Ventura counties, warning that wind gusts in mountainous areas and hills could exceed 100 mph (160 km/h), making control efforts against even more complex fires.
Translated by Adama Bamba
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