Photo: BBC
The worst-ever recorded wildfires that broke out on 8 January between Santa Monica and Malibu in California have already claimed the lives of at least 24 people. This was reported by CNN with reference to the Los Angeles County Department of the Medical Examiner’s Office.
The fire continues to spread rapidly, despite the massive efforts of rescuers. According to meteorologists, strong winds expected until Tuesday, 14 January, will only fuel the flames. Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna is amazed at the scale of the disaster: “It looks like an atomic bomb has been dropped on these areas.”
According to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, 931 inmates are involved in the firefighting effort, working around the clock to eliminate the effects of the fires.
The fire season in the region is now starting earlier and ending later due to climate change, according to the Firefighters’ Association, which is observing the ongoing transformation of the season into a near-round-the-clock phenomenon.
In early January, many Hollywood stars were forced to evacuate their luxury homes. On January 10, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke with US President Joe Biden and expressed condolences to the American people over the fires. On 12 January, Zelenskyy ordered preparations to allow 150 Ukrainian rescuers to help their American counterparts fight the fires.
