Wildfires in and around Los Angeles continue to spread. On Wednesday evening (local time), a further fire broke out in the Hollywood Hills – evacuation orders have been issued for more than 130,000 people in the LA metropolitan area.
US President Joe Biden declared the state of California a disaster area and ordered federal aid to support the reconstruction efforts on the spot. He cancelled his planned trip to Italy, which was scheduled for Friday, due to the disaster.
There are now six devastating wildfires in the region: Palisades Fire, Hurst Fire, Lidia Fire, Eaton Fire, Woodley Fire, and the Sunset Fire in the Hollywood Hills. The death toll is currently at five, but is likely to rise further. Such destructive forest fires are unusual in California in January, as the main season is actually between June and December.