USA At least five dead in devastating fires in California
The number of victims in the devastating fires in California has risen, according to US media reports. At least five people have died, said Sheriff Robert Luna of Los Angeles County, as reported by US broadcaster KABC.
09.01.2025, 02:11
SDA
On Wednesday morning, Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone initially spoke of two deaths. There were also a "large number" of injured residents who did not leave their homes in time, Marrone said.
The deaths occurred north-east of the US West Coast metropolis of Los Angeles, near Pasadena, where the "Eaton Fire" continued to burn out of control. Several large fires are raging in Southern California. More than 50,000 people were urged to leave their homes.
According to the US media, this is already one of the worst fire disasters in the history of Los Angeles. More than 1000 buildings are said to have been destroyed. Wind speeds of up to 130 kilometers per hour are making firefighting efforts difficult.
Biden declares fire region a disaster area
Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden declared the region in California affected by the fires a disaster area. The White House announced that this would allow communities and survivors to immediately receive federal funding to help with reconstruction. In addition, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema) has promised the US state of California financial assistance in fighting the fires.
The support also includes individual assistance programs for citizens and businesses, such as emergency housing and money for destroyed property, according to California Governor Gavin Newsom. He had previously declared a state of emergency for the region where the fires are raging. "President Biden's swift action is a great relief for California," he wrote on his website.
