The authorities ordered the evacuation of more than 80,000 people.
The number of victims of wildfires raging around Los Angeles rose to at least five on Thursday night. At the same time, it is expected that this number will increase, the local police said. TASR reports according to AP and AFP agencies.
Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna recalled that the authorities previously spoke of two victims, but they currently have at least five on record. “However, let’s remember that this is still a very volatile situation and the fire is still not at all under control. I really pray that we don’t find more (victims), but I don’t think that will be the case,” he added.
Authorities in the area have ordered a mandatory evacuation, which concerns more than 80,000 people. More than 400,000 people are without electricity.
The fires in California are caused by a combination of drought and strong winds
Fires in California were caused by a combination of drought and strong winds, reaching a speed of 120 kilometers per hour. The latter contributes to the spread of fire in city streets. Wind gusts will peak Thursday night local time, according to Governor Gavin Newsom.
Meteorological services have been predicting the risk of forest fires in California for several days. This is a situation that is surprising in the middle of winter, and made worse by the seasonal Santa Ana winds. It is a hot and dry wind that usually appears in autumn and winter. This year, it started blowing on Tuesday and contributed to the spread of the forest fire in an area that is also relatively dry.
The strength of Santa Ana winds is exceptional this year: with maximums between 120 and 160 km/h measured at high ground, this year’s occurrence could be the strongest in more than a decade.
