150 Filipinos affected by LA wildfires—DFA
Around 150 Filipinos have been displaced by the catastrophic Los Angeles wildfires and are currently staying in evacuation centers, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said.
In an interview with ANC's Headstart on Jan. 13, DFA Assistant Secretary Adelio Angelito Cruz said they are constantly monitoring the number of Filipinos affected and trying to help them find long-term housing.
"We have about 150 displaced Filipinos. They had to undergo the mandatory evacuation. They are now being housed in evacuation centers," Cruz said.
The Philippines' Consul General in Los Angeles also assured that the government would be able to help the affected people through the help of some Filipino American organizations and would extend the $200 (P11,737.30) monetary assistance.
"It is just for emergency assistance whether they need to purchase medical supplies, medicines, food but it is not going to stop there. The help and assistance that the Philippine government will be extending eventually will lead to them finding hopefully new jobs and new places to stay," Cruz said.
Cruz also urged unaccounted Filipinos affected by the wildfires wreaking havoc in Los Angeles to reach the consulate for possible assistance.
Los Angeles is facing a series of devastating wildfires, one of the worst and "costliest" in the city's history. These wildfires, fueled by strong winds and dry conditions, have led to widespread evacuations and significant destruction.
The destructive fire happened over the luxurious Pacific Palisades neighborhood where many of Hollywood's biggest stars reside. The flames burned over 19,978 acres and destroyed over 1,000 structures worth over $3 million (P177 million).
Other active fires include the Eaton Fire, raging across 13,690 acres, and the Hurst (855 acres), Kenneth (960 acres), and Lidia Fires (398 acres).
Celebrities like Leighton Meester, Adam Brody, Mandy Moore, and Paris Hilton have lost their homes to the flames. The fires also claimed iconic landmarks in the city, such as The Getty Villa, Pasadena Jewish Temple and Center, and Theatre Palisades.
All of these tragic events took place within just four days since the Southern California wildfires began on Jan. 7.
As of Jan. 13, 24 people have lost their lives to the disaster.
