Los Angeles Faces a Massive Threat: A Natural Disaster Strikes the City
Heavy rains have turned the streets of Los Angeles into rivers and mountain slopes into torrents of mud and rocks. The city is grappling with the aftermath of floods and landslides following recent wildfires.
Photo: pixabay.com
Los Angeles has once again found itself at the center of a natural disaster. On Thursday evening, a powerful downpour triggered floods and landslides, affecting multiple areas of the city, as reported by the New York Post.
The National Weather Service has warned of a high risk of road flooding, mudflows, and strong wind gusts.
Particularly dangerous are the areas recently affected by wildfires. Due to scorched soil, rainwater is unable to absorb, rapidly flowing downhill and carrying rocks, mud, and ash.
As a result, some streets, including a section of the Pacific Coast Highway, have been buried under debris up to 4 feet (1.2 meters) high.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has issued a warning to residents about the ongoing threat. Authorities have urged people to stay home, avoid driving on flooded roads, and steer clear of areas where further landslides are possible.
The hardest-hit areas include the Hollywood Hills, Pacific Palisades, and Altadena. Flooding has also been reported in Malibu, the San Fernando Valley, and downtown Los Angeles.
Meteorologists predict continued heavy rainfall, with precipitation rates reaching up to 1.25 inches (about 3 cm) per hour. Emergency services remain on high alert, while residents hope the storm will not cause further destruction.
Earlier, it was reported that a massive wildfire in California, Hughes Fire, which spread across 5,000 acres in the Castaic area, forced authorities to evacuate 476 inmates and around 18,000 local residents.
It was also revealed that Southern U.S. states suffered from a rare winter storm that paralyzed life for 31 million people, resulted in fatalities, caused hundreds of flight cancellations, and led to airport closures.