LA firefighters search for victims, brace for winds; Biden says rebuilding to cost tens of billions

Los Angeles, United States: President Joe Biden warned that the cost of rebuilding Los Angeles after devastating wildfires could reach "tens of billions of dollars." As California’s largest city faces more fierce winds, the fires have already claimed at least 24 lives, with the death toll expected to rise.

In the wake of the disaster, emergency teams continued to search for victims, moving through destroyed neighborhoods across Los Angeles. The seventh day of the crisis saw at least 24 confirmed fatalities, with over 90,000 people displaced.

Search teams were working with cadaver dogs, going house to house to find victims. "It is a very grim task, and we unfortunately, every day we're doing this, we're running across the remains of individual community members," said County Sheriff Robert Luna.

However, the situation remained volatile, with authorities bracing for stronger winds that could worsen the fires. The National Weather Service warned that "extremely critical fire weather conditions" would continue until Wednesday, with winds gusting up to 75 miles per hour in parts of Los Angeles.

LA schools reopen amid ongoing threats

Despite the ongoing danger, some normalcy began to return. Schools in most parts of Los Angeles were reopened, offering a sense of stability for families. "Conditions have improved for a majority of areas across the Los Angeles region," said the LA Unified School District, though schools in evacuation zones remained closed.

However, the return of Santa Ana winds raised new concerns. Firefighters were preparing for more flare-ups, while teams from neighboring states and even Mexico offered assistance in tackling the flames. "Our mission is to support our brothers and sisters in Los Angeles," said Mexican firefighter Benigno Hernandez Cerino.

Property, infrastructure devastation

The fires, including the Palisades and Eaton Fires, have destroyed over 12,000 structures, including homes and vehicles. The damage is immense, with aerial footage showing widespread devastation in neighborhoods like Altadena, which was nearly entirely blackened by the flames.

In addition to the fires' immediate destruction, the financial toll is expected to be significant. President Biden noted that rebuilding Los Angeles would take tens of billions of dollars, and the government is already planning for extensive recovery efforts.

Political fallout, tensions

The fires have also sparked political tensions. President-elect Donald Trump criticized California's leadership on social media, calling local officials 'incompetent.' California Governor Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, responded by inviting Trump to witness the damage firsthand.

As the rebuilding process begins, investigations into the cause of the fires continue. While wildfires are often a natural part of the environment, experts point out that climate change and urban sprawl make such disasters more frequent and severe. With conditions worsening due to climate change, officials warn that the region will face even more challenges in the future.

Agency