The threat hangs in the air. Los Angeles health authorities warned residents on Saturday, January 11, of the risks posed by toxic fumes caused by the vast fires which are devastating entire sections of the Californian city. They advise residents not to go out. Young people, the elderly and the sick should be particularly careful. Follow our live stream.
The death toll climbs to 16 deaths. Besieged by flames since Tuesday, the American megacity continues to count its dead: the toll, which so far showed 11 victims, increased on Saturday evening to 16 dead. The fire has so far destroyed or damaged more than 12,000 structures. A figure which includes buildings, but also cars, the authorities said on Saturday.
Fires still growing. Despite the efforts of thousands of firefighters on site, the “Palisades Fire” spread to the northwest of Los Angeles on Saturday. It now threatens the densely populated San Fernando Valley, but also the Getty Museum and its priceless works of art. Firefighters have benefited from a calm in the winds over the past three days. But the gusts should get stronger again this weekend.
A curfew declared. Faced with looting in disaster-stricken or evacuated areas, a strict curfew, in force between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m., was decreed Friday by the authorities in the Pacific Palisades and Altadena sectors, the most ravaged. The bill is expected to run into tens of billions of dollars, and some experts already fear that these fires will be the costliest on record.
