At least 16 people have been killed in the fires that have raged in the suburbs of Los Angeles since Tuesday, the county medical examiner announced Saturday evening. The fires spread to areas previously spared.
Eleven bodies were found in the area ravaged by the “Eaton Fire” near the town of Altadena, the medical examiner’s office said. The other five people died in the Palisades Fire, around the upscale Pacific Palisades neighborhood. The previous report reported 11 deaths.
Entire sections of the second largest city in the United States are devastated: more than 12,000 structures have been destroyed and more than 15,000 hectares have gone up in smoke. US President Joe Biden compared the landscape to “a war scene”.
Despite the massive mobilization of firefighters, the progression of the fire triggered new evacuation orders on the eastern flank of the Pacific Palisades sector, in an area where the Getty Center is located. Built partly with fire-resistant stones, the famous museum houses 125,000 works of art.
Return of strong winds
The winds which began to weaken on Friday should regain strength from Saturday evening, according to forecasts from the federal natural disaster response agency (FEMA). “These winds, combined with dry air and dry vegetation, will keep the fire threat in Los Angeles County high,” said Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone.
Aerial footage of the Mandeville Canyon area shows homes on fire, with a wall of flames licking the side of a hillside.
Even if it is too early to determine the origin of the fires, criticism of the preparation and response of public authorities is increasing. The head of the Los Angeles fire department, Kristin Crowley, deplored on the KTTV channel, affiliated with Fox News, a persistent lack of “personnel, resources and funds”, remarks interpreted as targeting local authorities.
Reinforcements from Mexico
During a press conference on Saturday in the presence of Ms. Crowley, the city’s mayor, Karen Bass, however, minimized tensions, ensuring that political leaders, emergency services and security were “all on the same page wave”.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum announced on Saturday the sending of a “support team to Los Angeles, with forest fire fighters”.
Faced with looting in disaster-stricken or evacuated areas, a curfew, in effect between 6:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., was decreed Friday by the authorities in the Pacific Palisades and Altadena sectors, the most ravaged.
The main fire, affecting Pacific Palisades, was 11% contained on Saturday and was spreading eastward after burning some 9,100 hectares, while the Eaton fire was 15% contained, according to emergency services.
Toxic fumes
In addition to the 16 dead, 13 people are missing, but authorities have said they expect the toll to rise. Across the megacity, evacuations number in the hundreds of thousands.
Health authorities also warned residents of the health risks posed by smoke from the fires, asking them to stay inside buildings. “We all deal with wildfire smoke, which is a mixture of small particles, gases and water vapors,” said Anish Mahajan of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.
“It’s these small particles that get into the nose and throat and cause sore throats and headaches,” he added. “In areas where smoke is visible or there is a smell of smoke, and even where you don’t see it, we know that air quality is poor, so you should limit any exposure to smoke. outside as much as possible.
This article was automatically published. Sources: ats / afp
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