California blaze: Evacuation chaos as fire spirals out of control
The horror in California continues. Strong winds are aiding the rapid fire spread in the coastal district of Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles. Tens of thousands have been evacuated, while many others are trapped in their homes, unable to contact emergency services. Reports suggest this could be the worst fire in LA's history, with photos and videos of the disaster being terrifying.
The situation in Los Angeles is becoming increasingly dire. More images and videos of the disaster, resembling apocalyptic scenes, are appearing online. Raging fires and power lines sparking on trees can be seen.
The fire is expected to spread to more districts, and people trapped in their homes are warned that they cannot contact emergency services.
In many instances, people are forced to flee with only the clothes on their backs, abandoning all their belongings. Evacuation by car is impossible, as highways in many areas are closed, and the fire is spreading rapidly. Evacuation orders have been enforced in other parts of the City of Angels.
The scale of the fire is evident in photos taken from aircraft. Firefighters are struggling to battle the blaze, and strong winds are severely hampering their efforts.
County authorities have been accused of refusing to refill water tanks. Emergency services say, "Fire hydrants in Los Angeles are empty," adding that they cannot extinguish the fire without water.
The Mayor of Los Angeles was reportedly informed earlier about the fire risk due to forecast strong winds; however, no preparatory actions were taken.
People attempting to leave the threatened areas say, "It's a real hell." Chaos reigns in the city, and services are struggling to control the fire.
"Please pray for LA !! My house will most likely be gone in the next hour at this pace." and read the dramatic posts on social media.
