Death toll rises in Los Angeles wildfires!

Efforts to contain the wildfires that have been raging in and around Los Angeles for days are continuing without interruption.

Health authorities in the region announced that 11 people have lost their lives due to the fires.

According to data from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, 98 percent of the Lidia fire, which has affected approximately 400 acres, 70 percent of the Hurst fire, which has affected approximately 770 acres, and 50 percent of the Kenneth fire, which has reduced approximately 1050 acres to ash, have been contained.

Despite this, it was reported that only 3 percent of the Eaton fire, which has affected approximately 14 thousand acres, and only 8 percent of the Palisades fire, which has reduced approximately 21 thousand 600 acres to ash, have been contained.

In a statement from the White House regarding the fires, it was stated that 10 navy helicopters equipped with water buckets have set out from the San Diego area and another firefighting aircraft is on the way.

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre emphasized that 5 large firefighting aircraft and more than 20 federal helicopters are currently supporting the efforts.

In a statement from the US Department of Defense (Pentagon), it was reported that an additional 500 personnel have been assigned to support the firefighting efforts.

Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh stated that this number includes 200 law enforcement officers, 14 teams for the reduction of flammable materials in the region, and 10 helicopter crews, emphasizing that they expect the number of personnel participating in firefighting efforts to increase within 24 hours.

US President Joe Biden announced that a one-time payment of 750 dollars will be made to those affected by the fires to meet their urgent needs.

WHAT HAPPENED?

Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna had announced that a nighttime curfew would be implemented in the fire-affected Palisades and Eaton regions.

Luna had stated that those who violate the curfew would be prosecuted for "misdemeanor conduct" and, if found guilty, would be subject to a 1000 dollar fine or imprisonment.

Los Angeles Police Department Assistant Chief Dominic Choi had also reported that a total of 210 police officers had been assigned to maintain law and order in the fire-affected regions.

Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Maroney pointed out yesterday that they had detected a "drone violation" in the fire area, warning, "Flying a drone in a fire zone is not only dangerous but also illegal."

Stating that federal forces would track drone flights, Maroney expressed that flying drones in these areas means that all air operations must be suspended.

In the fires, more than 10 thousand structures were damaged or rendered completely unusable.