Breaking News: President Joe Biden Cancels Italy Trip Due to Devastating Los Angeles Wildfires
The White House has announced that President Joe Biden has canceled his trip to Italy due to the ongoing wildfires ravaging the Los Angeles area. Biden “has decided to cancel” the visit “to focus in the coming days on the management of the federal response” to the emergency, spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre stated. The President’s trip to Italy was scheduled from today until January 12th.
With the death toll rising to five in the wildfires, all victims were recorded in the Altadena area, where the Eaton fire is raging.
Sunset Boulevard, the famous street in West Hollywood, lies in ruins after being devastated by the wildfires. Residents have reported seeing banks, bars, and supermarkets they had frequented for decades completely destroyed, as reported by the Los Angeles Times.
Over 130,000 people are currently under evacuation orders after a new fire broke out in the famous Hollywood Hills, according to Sky News. Mandatory evacuation orders have been issued for Laurel Canyon Boulevard to the west, Mulholland Drive to the north, the 101 Freeway to the east, and Hollywood Boulevard to the south. Evacuation orders have also been extended to the coastal city of Santa Monica, known for its pier.
Celebrities such as Billy Crystal and Paris Hilton are among those who have lost their homes in the devastating wildfires that have swept through the Los Angeles area. Over 1,000 buildings have been destroyed by six distinct fires that have affected the city and its surroundings, dotted with the mansions of Hollywood stars. One of the most severe devastations occurred in the picturesque enclave of Pacific Palisades, where a portion of the neighborhood was reduced to ashes.
“No Italians have been injured or involved in serious situations for physical safety” in the Los Angeles fires, emphasized Raffaella Valentini, the Consul General of Italy in Los Angeles, speaking with ANSA. The Consulate is currently closed “to ensure the safety of employees and also because it is located near the evacuation zone in the city of Santa Monica,” explained the Consul. Appointments will be rescheduled for the following week.
Donald Trump, on the other hand, reiterated that the “blame” for what is happening in Los Angeles lies with Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom. “He hasn’t done a good job,” said the President-elect in a meeting with Republican senators on Capitol Hill. Trump described the wildfires as “a real tragedy” and insisted that the responsibility lies with an “error by the governor and the administration.”
POWER OUTAGES
More than 1.5 million users have been left without electricity throughout the state of California, according to Poweroutage.us. Over a million reside in the metropolitan province, the most populous in the United States, with 163,000 affected individuals in Orange County and 9,000 customers in San Diego. Many outages are intentional and preventive as powerful winds could cause power lines to fall and spark fires.
Incendio Los Angeles, fiamme estese su quasi 3.000 acri
A Hollywood, Film Premieres Canceled Due to Wildfires
Various film premieres, such as the biographical film about Robbie Williams ‘Better Man,’ have been canceled due to the “dangerous conditions affecting Los Angeles” caused by the ongoing wildfires. Premieres of Unstoppable, starring Jennifer Lopez, and Wolf Man, featuring Julia Garner and produced by Ryan Gosling, have also been postponed.
“Our thoughts are with those affected by the devastating fires, and we urge everyone to stay safe and follow the directions and orders of local authorities and government agencies,” a Paramount spokesperson told various media outlets, including entertainment sites like Variety and Deadline.
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