The United States president Joe Biden has authorized the release of federal assistance to aid California in combating the massive wildfire that has engulfed Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles.
The blaze has claimed five lives, displaced over 100,000 residents, and destroyed numerous homes.
Celebrities including Ben Affleck, James Woods, and the Kardashians are among those forced to evacuate as the inferno, fuelled by extreme winds, continues to spread rapidly, consuming 2,900 acres of land, equivalent to three football fields every minute.
“I’ve approved Governor Newsom’s request for a major disaster declaration and ordered Federal assistance to supplement response efforts in areas affected by wildfires, ensuring impacted communities and survivors have immediate access to funds and resources to begin their recovery,” Biden said in an X post.
Witnesses report “dozens” of homes, including multi-million-dollar properties, reduced to rubble.
California Governor Gavin Newsom has declared a state-wide emergency, while wind gusts of up to 50 mph are forecasted to worsen conditions.
With resources strained and the fire raging unabated, Los Angeles braces for further destruction as efforts to protect lives and properties intensify.