At least 16 people have died in the Los Angeles wildfires, according to the latest update from local authorities this morning. The fires have been raging for five days, leaving large parts of America’s second-largest city devastated.
Authorities have imposed a curfew from 6 PM to 6 AM in the hardest-hit areas, Pacific Palisades and Altadena, due to widespread looting in affected and evacuated zones.
The cause of the fires is still unknown, but heavy criticism has been directed at the Governor of California and the Mayor of Los Angeles for inadequate preparation and poor crisis response.
The editorial team of Serbian Times contacted Katarina Stanojević, a young Serbian woman living near the endangered zone in Los Angeles. When asked about the current situation, she said:
“The fires are still raging in Palisades, about 10 kilometers from Venice Beach, where I am. There are two more fires being fought at other locations, but they are less intense. From here, you can see the flames rising behind the hills. So far, about 25,000 hectares of green land and buildings have been destroyed, over 180,000 residents evacuated, and the damage exceeds $100 billion. The fire in the famous Hollywood Hills has been extinguished, and the Hollywood sign remains untouched,” Katarina explained.
She added that Governor Newsom had refused for five years to implement a law that would redirect water from Northern California to Los Angeles to protect the habitat of a local fish species. When asked who the residents blame for the disaster, she replied:
“Residents of LA are enduring it calmly; there is no rebellion against the authorities, but both the mayor and the governor are mentioned as being responsible for the lack of water in hydrants and the immense workload faced by firefighters. Help has arrived from Canada, planes have come, and we are all very grateful for that.”
She also noted that many Serbians have been evacuated and are currently safe.
“Everyone I know is now safe, but I don’t know anyone whose house has burned down. Unfortunately, I do have friends and colleagues whose parents and families have lost their homes, and it’s hard to believe when you see everything happening.”
Reports have surfaced that insurance companies canceled coverage for homes in Palisades and other areas now most affected by the fires…
“Residents of LA whom I’ve spoken with are wondering how it’s possible that the fires broke out in the most exclusive neighborhoods, where the most expensive homes are located. It’s also being discussed that insurance companies canceled fire insurance for homes specifically in those areas. There are videos circulating online titled Smart LA 2028 that show a project for a new city planned exactly in the areas now affected by the biggest fires. This reminds people of what happened in Chicago when the city first burned down in a great fire, only to be rebuilt later as a new city. Many suspect that something similar is happening now in LA,” said Katarina, sharing her impressions from Los Angeles, and she concluded:
“There are many questions and doubts. We will probably never know whether these theories are true, but it’s clear that there’s a lot of human greed and recklessness involved in all of this.”
Serbian Times has already written stories about Katarina Stanojević, you can find an article about her HERE!
Text: Antonije Kovačević Video: Katarina Stanojević
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