After a brief lull in the winds, they will strengthen at the start of the week, raising fears of new evacuations.
Firefighters were working Sunday to contain the two main forest fires that have ravaged the Los Angeles region for nearly a week, taking advantage of favorable weather conditions, a brief respite as violent winds were expected again in the hours to come.
At least 24 people were killed in what authorities say could be the most devastating natural disaster in U.S. history. Thousands of homes were destroyed and some 100,000 people were forced to evacuate, the fires transforming entire neighborhoods into ruins, leaving apocalyptic landscapes behind them. Authorities reported that 12,300 structures were damaged or destroyed.
The Palisades firewhich broke out on the western outskirts of Los Angeles, in upscale neighborhoods, threatened other highly populated areas of the Californian megalopolis. With the support of aerial devices, some of which were supplied with water from the Pacific Ocean, firefighters were working to prevent the flames from spreading, while the “Palisades Fire”, contained at 11%, had already burned. more than 23,700 hectares.
On the other side of Los Angeles, on the eastern edge of the city, the feu Eaton has ravaged more than 14,100 hectares, almost the equivalent of the area of Manhattan. Taking advantage of more favorable weather conditions, firefighters managed to contain the fire to 27%, compared to 15% the day before. The California Fire Department (Cal Fire) also announced that the Hurst fire, north of the city, was 89% contained, while three other fires that had started in different parts of the region were fully contained. However, these areas could continue to burn, he added.
THE Santa Ana windshot and dry, which fuel the fires by blowing from east to west, lost intensity this weekend. But the National Weather Service (NWS), the American meteorological service, plans to new gusts which could reach between 80 and 112 km/h at the start of the week. Los Angeles and Ventura counties were again placed on red alert from Sunday evening until Wednesday.
The authorities have warned that anyone residing in the Los Angeles Countyor close to 10 million people, could be ordered to evacuate. “These winds, combined with low humidity, will keep the threat level across all of Los Angeles County very high.”said the head of the local fire department, Anthony Marrone, during a press conference. *
Evacuated areas could remain closed until red alerts are lifted on Thursday, he added. Still, schools not in evacuated areas are expected to reopen Monday, Los Angeles School District Superintendent Alberto Carvalho announced. The closures decided last Thursday and Friday affected all 429,000 schoolchildren.
California Governor Gavin Newsom told NBC News that the fires were likely the worst natural disaster in American history, “just in terms of costs”. According to the private firm AccuWeather, the damage and loss of income are expected to amount to at least $135 billion. Firefighters from seven other US states as well as neighboring Canada and Mexico were dispatched to the Los Angeles area to support local crews.
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