An unprecedented natural disaster and huge economic losses
A series of devastating wildfires broke out in Los Angeles County this week, creating an unprecedented natural disaster. To date, these fires have killed at least 11 people, while 10,000 buildings have been destroyed or damaged, making them one of the most devastating disasters in US history. It is estimated that the number of missing people reaches at least 13 people, with expectations that the death toll will rise in the coming days, as the security situation improves, allowing fire brigades to conduct comprehensive searches from one house to another.
In the latest developments, the strong winds that fueled the wildfires that swept through parts of Los Angeles on Friday finally subsided, bringing some relief to exhausted firefighters. But a change in the direction of the largest of these fires was detected, prompting new evacuation orders to be issued.
Expanding the scope of evacuation
On Friday night, the Los Angeles Times reported that the Palisades Fire on the city’s western edge had taken a new direction, prompting an evacuation order for much of the Brentwood neighborhood and the foothills of the San Fernando Valley.
Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Eric Scott said in a statement to local station KTLA: “The Palisades Fire has burned largely in the eastern part and continues to move toward the northeast.”
Before the most recent fire broke out, firefighters announced progress in extinguishing the Palisades and Eaton fires in the foothills east of the city. Despite the great efforts of hundreds of firefighters, 8% of the Palisades fire and 3% of the Eaton fire were contained. The two fires had burned through 35,000 acres, two and a half times the size of Manhattan.
With thousands displaced, a public health emergency was created due to air pollution caused by rising smoke. Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said that about 153,000 people are still under evacuation orders, while another 166,800 people face evacuation warnings, with a curfew imposed in all evacuation zones.
Seven neighboring states, the federal government and Canada rushed to send aid, with air teams dropping water and firefighting materials, as well as field crews attacking fire lines with hand tools and hoses.
According to the National Weather Service, conditions will improve in the Los Angeles area over the weekend, with sustained winds expected to slow to about 32 kilometers per hour, compared to recent wind gusts that reached 129 kilometers per hour. However, meteorologists expect another warning to be issued on Monday.
Is it really contrived?
Although it is too early to know the causes of the fire, criticism has begun to emerge regarding the authorities’ preparedness and response. Some of the most famous fire investigators in the United States are working to determine the cause of the fire, according to NBC. Experts ruled out the hypothesis that the cause of the fire was intentional.
Four experts told the network that there is a weak possibility that the fires were ignited intentionally, as they attribute the causes of the outbreak of fires to natural factors that contributed to drought and strong winds making them more destructive.
Huge economic losses
These fires are expected to be one of the costliest natural disasters in US history. The fires have killed at least 11 people and burned more than 12,000 buildings since Tuesday, destroying entire neighborhoods that were home to properties worth millions of dollars. Although it is too early to provide an accurate tally of the financial losses, estimates indicate that the losses so far make these fires among the costliest in the history of the United States.
According to a preliminary estimate from AccuWeather, the damage and economic losses are estimated at between $135 billion and $150 billion. For comparison, the company estimated damage caused by Hurricane Helen, which swept through six southeastern states last fall, at $225 billion to $250 billion.
Los Angeles County wildfires remain largely out of control. This means that the final tally of losses is likely to increase significantly. Shares of American insurance companies fell after analysts estimated that the losses covered by insurance due to forest fires could reach $20 billion.
