Ten days after the start of the fires which continue to rage in Los Angeles, police on horseback and agents accompanied by dogs inspect the disaster areas on Friday in search of victims in the charred buildings and even in certain steep areas.
Dozens of people are still missing and at least 27 have died from the fires in Altadena, north of Los Angeles, and in the upscale Pacific Palisades neighborhood in the city’s west.
The blazes destroyed more than 16,000 hectares, an area almost as large as the federal capital, Washington, and led to the evacuation of tens of thousands of people.
Among some evacuees, frustration is mounting with authorities preventing them from returning home – even if their homes escaped the flames – because of invisible dangers such as potential landslides or the risk of pollution by toxic substances.
Nina Madok, who lost her home in Pacific Palisades, told theAFP that an information meeting organized Thursday evening for the evacuees had not used for nothing
. We need local leaders answering our questions now…not these charlatans
she decided.
Authorities said Thursday it would be at least a week before evacuees could return home.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, under fire for her management of the crisis, announced Friday the appointment of a manager responsible for organizing the reconstruction.
Crews with sniffer dogs continue their painstaking search in Altadena, where at least 5,718 buildings have been destroyed, making the Eaton Fire the second most destructive fire in California history, according to state firefighters.
We examine each building one by one and search every square inch trying to find someone
pointed out Dan Paige, who helps coordinate search operations in the city.
The fire in Pacific Palisades, a neighborhood between Malibu and Santa Monica, destroyed at least 2,869 buildings.
-Above Malibu, police officers roam the steep, brushy hills on horseback. All affected areas must be raked before they can reopen to the public, even when no specific information suggests a human presence.
As thousands of firefighters continue their efforts to put out the flames, thank you signs are popping up all over Los Angeles, even outside the studio where the host and comedian Jimmy Kimmel records a famous television show.
A video published by TMZ showed firefighters in uniform applauded and cheered by customers of a restaurant in Calabasas, near Malibu, after a meal offered, according to this variety information site, by the establishment and by the customers.
These praises addressed to the firefighters contrast with the frontal attacks of President-elect Donald Trump against Gavin Newsom, the Democratic governor of California, on the management of fires by local authorities.
Donald Trump, who will return to the White House on Monday, threatened to suspend federal aid to his state if it did not comply with his political demands.
Considered one of the great hopes of the Democratic Party, Gavin Newsom is one of the billionaire’s favorite targets, who through him attacks progressive ideas, of which California is a crucible.
The fires led to looting of properties evacuated by their residents. Dozens of people were arrested and nine of them charged for this type of theft.
Former American tennis champion Pam Shriver, who fled the flames of Pacific Palisades, had 16 Grand Slam tournament trophies stolen, all won in doubles. They were in her car, stolen from the parking lot of the hotel where she had found refuge.
To the people who do this, [je dis :] guys, we need to stick together
she told local television KTLA. Now is not the time to cause people even more stress and worry.
