The death toll from the fires in and around Los Angeles has risen to at least sixteen, according to official figures. The people who do not have to evacuate are not allowed to leave their homes. The metropolis is now shrouded in a toxic cloud.
The latest number of victims comes from a list published on Saturday (local time) by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Department. Five bodies were found in and around the Pacific Palisades district and 11 in and around suburban Pasadena. So far, authorities have assumed a total of eleven deaths.
About 12,000 homes have been destroyed so far, according to the latest fire safety authority balance sheet. In the particularly hard-hit Pacific Palisades district alone, more than 9,500 hectares of land was destroyed.
New sources of fire and bad weather
On Saturday, the fires spread to previously untouched areas of Los Angeles, and authorities ordered evacuations in other parts of the city. The National Weather Service warned of weather conditions that could encourage further fires or lead to the expansion of existing ones until at least early next week.
Since Tuesday, several major fires had broken out around the Southern Californian city of more than a million residents, fanned by strong winds and spreading explosively. More than 180,000 people have had to leave their homes in recent days, including countless Hollywood stars and other celebrities.
Los Angeles declares a mini-lockdown
Meanwhile, Anish Mahajan of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health warned reporters that residents of the US west coast metro should “stay outdoors as little as possible” due to poor air quality. The smoke visible in many parts of the city is made up of “particles, gases and water vapour,” and the particles end up in people’s noses and throats with the air they breathe, causing sore throats and headaches, Mahajan explains .
Children, seniors, and people with heart or respiratory conditions may develop significantly more severe symptoms. The air is also polluted in those parts of the city where no smoke is visible.
Mahajan also said that even people with no previous health problems should stay at home and use air filters if possible. Anyone who must work outdoors must use an N95 respirator. N95 masks correspond to those with the FFP2 standard common in Europe.
The county declared a public health emergency on Friday due to increased air pollution caused by the fires in Los Angeles. Among other things, the operation of machines such as leaf blowers was prohibited, because they can blow up ash.
Firefighters come from Mexico
Los Angeles is now receiving help from Mexico to fight the fire. Firefighters from the neighboring country have landed by plane, the Democratic governor of the American state of California, Gavin Newsom, announced on Platform X. They therefore join the more than 14,000 emergency services on site. California is forever grateful for the support.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum also announced the aid on
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
