The balance of muertos due to the fires in Los Angeles (United States) increased this Tuesday to 25 after the Forensic Department reported a new death, while Police announced arrests for setting fires. The latest deceased was identified as Zhi Feng Zhao, an 84-year-old man who became the 17th victim of the Eaton fire. The other eight people have died in the Palisades fire.
In a press conference, police commander Steve Embrich said that 13 people still missing in the Palisades firea figure that has dropped from the previously reported 35, with the majority found alive. He also reported 14 arrests related to the fires, three of them from people suspected of provoking fires. The rest of the arrests respond to various crimes such as vandalism and theft, failure to comply with curfew or impersonation of a firefighter and a police officer.
Firefighters are fighting these fires that for a week, fueled by the powerful Santa Ana winds, have devastated nearly 16,500 hectares in Los Angeles.
The largest of the fires, the Palisades, has burned some 9,600 hectares, destroyed thousands of homes and is 17% controlled. The Eaton is 35% controlled and has devastated about 5,700 hectares.
