For two weeks now, Los Angeles has been devastated by several different fires that have left dozens of deaths and left thousands homeless.
Southern California was hit this Monday by new strong winds that created “critical” weather conditions in Los Angeles, the North American city that was the scene of that killed at least 27 people.
Firefighters continue to make progress in the fight against the flames, which have destroyed almost 16 thousand hectares since the 7th and devastated some neighborhoods and suburbs of the city.
However, the situation could worsen with the return of violent winds, with some gusts exceeding 140 km/h, a power comparable to that of a hurricane.
Rain hasn’t appeared in eight months
Without rain for eight months, the region is seeing favorable conditions for the spread of fire.
“We expect that extremely critical weather conditions for fires will continue to be created throughout the region”, predicted Ariel Cohen, from the US Meteorological Service, cited by the Agence France Presse.
“All fires that form can grow explosively, so this is a particularly dangerous situation,” he added.
Criticized for the management of this catastrophe, authorities pre-distributed firefighters and vehicles in risk areas.
“I think we will be very, very well prepared for the worst-case scenario in the next two days and I hope we don’t come to that,” commented Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass.
The largest of the fires, the one in Palisades, was 59% controlled this Monday and authorities reduced the extent of the affected areas with an evacuation order.
The Eaton fire, which mainly devastated the city of Altadena, north of Los Angeles, was 87% contained.
Trump is expected in California over the weekend
Donald Trump, this Monday sworn in as the new President of the United States, is expected in California at the end of the week and will be under the scrutiny of the local population after, in the past, threatening to cut federal aid to the State to fight fires.
The trip also includes a meeting with the governor of California, Democrat Gavin Newsom, whom Trump has already criticized.
