President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. extended his message of solidarity and support to the victims of the raging wildfires in Southern California in the United States, particularly in Los Angeles where many Filipino-American families and overseas Filipino workers are staying.
“On behalf of the Filipino people, I extend my deepest sympathies to all who have been affected by the devastating wildfires in Southern California, USA—a place that many of our kababayans call home,” Mr. Marcos said in a statement posted on his social media accounts on Sunday.
“May the community’s road to recovery begin with strength, compassion, and solidarity,” he added.
Firefighters were racing against time over the weekend to get on top of the massive wildfires around Los Angeles as winds ramped up, pushing the blazes towards previously untouched neighborhoods.
At least 16 people were now confirmed dead from fires that have ripped through the city, leaving communities in ruins and testing the mettle of thousands of firefighters—and millions of California residents.
The Palisades fire was 11 percent contained Saturday but had grown to 23,600 acres (9,500 hectares), while the Eaton Fire was at 14,000 acres and 15 percent contained.
Official figures show more than 12,000 structures burned, but Cal Fire’s Todd Hopkins said not all were homes, and the number would also include outbuildings, RVs, vehicles and sheds.
A huge investigation was underway to determine what caused the blazes, involving the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), along with local authorities, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said.
“We are not going to leave any rock unturned,” he said.
“If this is a criminal act—I’m not saying it’s going to be—if it is, we need to hold whoever did this, or groups responsible,” Luna added, appealing for anyone who had information to come forward.
While the ignition of a wildfire can be deliberate, they are often natural, and a vital part of an environment’s life cycle.
But urban sprawl puts people more frequently in harm’s way, and the changing climate—supercharged by humanity’s unchecked use of fossil fuels—is exacerbating the conditions that give rise to destructive blazes. With AFP
Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline: “Marcos commiserates with California residents amid ongoing wildfires”
