News
Death toll hits 10 as Los Angeles wildfires destroy thousands of homes
Wildfires threatening Los Angeles have killed at least 10 people and devoured nearly 10,000 structures, with five fires burning into a third night on Thursday, as dry desert winds fanning the flames again gathered strength.
The Palisades Fire between Santa Monica and Malibu on the city’s western flank and the Eaton Fire in the east near Pasadena already rank as the most destructive in Los Angeles history, consuming more than 34,000 acres (13,750 hectares) – or some 53 square miles – turning entire neighborhoods to ash.
The death toll from the blazes rose to 10, Los Angeles County’s Medical Examiner said in an update late on Thursday, without providing identities or other details.
Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna told an earlier news conference that he expected the number to grow.
“It looks like an atomic bomb dropped in these areas.
“I don’t expect good news, and we’re not looking forward to those numbers,” Luna said.
Private forecaster AccuWeather estimated the damage and economic loss at between 135 billion dollars and 150 billion dollars, portending an arduous recovery and soaring homeowners’ insurance costs.
Southern California Edison said on Thursday it had received notices from insurance companies to preserve evidence related to the Eaton Fire, but said no fire agencies have pointed to the utility’s connection to the fire.
“We’re already looking ahead to rebuild the city of Los Angeles aggressively,” said Mayor Karen Bass, a Democrat, who faced criticism from President-elect Donald Trump and other Republicans over her handling of the disaster.
President Joe Biden, who declared a major disaster on Tuesday, promised on Thursday that the federal government would reimburse 100 per cent of the recovery for the next 180 days to pay for debris and hazard material removal, temporary shelters, and first responder salaries.
“I told the governor and local officials to spare no expense to do what they need to do and contain these fires,” Biden said after meeting with senior advisers at the White House.
In all, five wildfires burned in Los Angeles County, with the largest Palisades fire just 6 per cent contained and the Eaton fire 0 per cent contained.
Skies buzzed with aircraft dropping retardant and water on the flaming hills.
A large Super Scooper aircraft on loan from Canada was damaged and grounded after hitting an unauthorised civilian drone near the Palisades fire, the L.A. County Fire Department said.
There were no injuries.
One rapidly growing blaze broke out on Thursday near Calabasas, one of the wealthiest cities in the U.S. and home to numerous celebrities and gated communities.
The so-called Kenneth Fire expanded to 960 acres (388 hectares) in a matter of hours.
With nerves on edge, Los Angeles County mistakenly sent an evacuation notice countywide to a population of 9.6 million, even though it had been meant only for the area of the Kenneth Fire, officials said.
A correction was quickly sent.
Officials said the Eaton Fire had damaged or destroyed 4,000 to 5,000 structures while the Palisades Fire destroyed or damaged another 5,300 structures.
Some Pacific Palisades residents ventured back to areas the fire had already swept through, where brick chimneys were left looming over charred waste and burnt-out vehicles.
“We are alive. That’s all that matters,” private security guard Bilal Tukhi said while standing watch outside his employer’s damaged home, saying the scene reminded him of his native, war-torn Afghanistan.
School was canceled for a second day on Friday due to the contaminated air, Superintendent Alberto Carvalho said.
Winds dropped on Thursday from the 100-mile-per-hour (160-kph) gusts seen earlier in the week, permitting crucial aerial support for crews on the ground.
However, officials said winds intensified again overnight, and red flag conditions were expected until Friday afternoon.
In Altadena, a racially and economically diverse community nearby, many residents told Reuters they were concerned government resources would be channeled towards high-profile areas popular with A-Listers, while insurance companies might shortchange less affluent households that don’t have the financial means to contest fire claims.
“They’re not going to give you the value of your house … if they do you really have to fight for it,” said Kay Young, 63, her eyes welling up with tears as she stared at a sprawl of smoking rubble, the remnants of a home that had been in her family for generations.
Firefighting crews managed to fully control the Sunset Fire in the Hollywood Hills, after flames had raged atop the ridge overlooking Hollywood Boulevard’s Walk of Fame on Wednesday night.
In Pacific Palisades, once-palatial homes stood in ruins, while downed power lines and abandoned cars littered the roadways.
One resident, John Carr, 65, said he defied evacuation orders and stayed to successfully protect his home.
“The house was built by my mother and father in 1960 and I lived here my whole life so there’s a lot of memories here.
“And I think I owed it to them as well to try my best to save it.”
Carr said there were no fire crews to help him try to save his neighbors’ homes.
“If they had had some fire trucks and just put a squirt here, a squirt there, and kept an eye on things, all these houses would be here now.”
Officials said they were working to establish curfews for areas affected by mandatory evacuation orders.
Aerial video showed block after block of leveled homes, just as satellite images showed the two largest fires forming a pincer around the city and thick plumes of smoke from the fires being blown out over the Pacific Ocean.
The homes of movie stars and celebrities were among those consumed by flames.
Chef Jose Andres, the Spaniard, known for providing free food to disaster victims around the world set up a food truck near the Palisades Fire on Pacific Coast Highway.
“Everybody needs support and love in these moments, wealthy or not, poor or not,” he said.
On Thursday Actor Jamie Lee Curtis said her family would donate 1 million dollars to relief efforts.
Firefighters from half a dozen other U.S. states and Canada were being rushed to California, in addition to U.S. federal personnel and materiel.
“To our American neighbors: Canada’s here to help,” said Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, whose country has experienced severe wildfires. (Reuters/NAN)
The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has withdrawn the invitation extended to the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi.
The police chief, however, directed the Kano State command of the force to obtain the monarch’s statement in the State regarding the incident.
Egbetokun, who gave the directive through the spokesman of the police, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said the withdrawal became imperative following the intervention of some stakeholders in the country.
The top cop also said his resolve was in line with the police’s commitment to ensuring that policing actions are not politicized or misinterpreted.
The Inspire Her Conference & Awards 2025, set to take place in Abuja on 17th April, promises to be a celebration of female leadership, resilience, and achievement across Africa.
The event will be led by the Honourable Minister for Women Affairs, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, and the Honourable Minister for State FCT, Dr. Mariya Mahmud, alongside other influential women leaders.
The conference and awards, organised by the Inspiring Youths Africa Initiative & Magazine and Rest Logic Nigeria, will honour a diverse group of exceptional women for their contributions to society and leadership.
Among the distinguished recipients of the Inspire Her Award are Halima Buba, Chief Executive Officer of Sun Trust Bank; Hajiya Umma Getso, the 2019 Vice Presidential Candidate of the Young Progressive Party (YPP); Hon. Stella Okotete, Executive Director of NEXIM Bank; and Engr. Fatima Umar Farouk, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Women Affairs.
The conference will also highlight the achievements of other accomplished female leaders, aiming to inspire women across the continent and encourage resilience, inclusion, and progress.
With the theme “Accelerate Action: Building Resilience,” the conference will address key issues such as gender equality, leadership inclusion, human capital development, work-life balance, and poverty eradication.
In addition to the award ceremony, the event will feature keynote speeches, panel discussions, workshops, and interactive sessions, creating a platform for dialogue on the challenges and opportunities facing African women today.
Attendees will have the chance to engage with top female leaders from both corporate and private sectors, share ideas, and explore potential solutions to enhance women’s roles in leadership and societal progress.
Amb. Jeremiah Agala, Executive Director of the Inspiring Youths Africa Initiative, and Co-Convener Dr. Joy Franklyn Ekemezie, emphasised that the conference would highlight the excellence, hard work, and resilience of African and Nigerian women.
“This year’s conference will feature the Inspire Her Fire Chat, a new addition designed to provide deeper insights into the journeys of our honourees and inspire the next generation of women leaders,” Agala said.
The event, which is expected to attract over 1,000 participants, will take place at the prestigious Nicon Luxury Hotels in Abuja, with a diverse audience that includes female youth leaders, students, women’s organisations, decision-makers, and the international community.
With a limited number of slots available, organisers are urging those interested to register early, as admission is strictly by registration.
The conference promises to be a powerful event, one that will not only celebrate the success of African women but also create pathways for future empowerment and leadership.
Early Sunday, a missile barrage targeted the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, injuring at least three individuals and igniting multiple fires, according to the city’s mayor. This attack occurred just two days after a Russian strike in President Volodymyr Zelensky’s hometown resulted in the deaths of 18 people.
Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported that emergency services were dispatched to two districts within Kyiv, while the Ukrainian air force confirmed that missiles had penetrated the northern Chernihiv region.
“Explosions have been reported in the capital, and air defense systems are currently engaged,” Klitschko stated on Telegram. He urged residents to seek shelter, warning, “The missile assault on Kyiv persists.”
So far, three injuries have been recorded, with fires erupting in non-residential structures and damage inflicted on eight vehicles.
This onslaught coincides with U.S. President Donald Trump advocating for a partial ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, over three years into Moscow’s extensive invasion, while also seeking to mend relations with the Kremlin.
Poland’s military announced that it, along with allied forces, had taken to the skies in response to Russian strikes near the western Ukrainian border, with ground-based air defense systems on high alert.
“Due to the heightened activity of long-range Russian aviation targeting locations within western Ukraine, Polish and allied aircraft operations in our airspace have commenced,” stated its operational command on X. “These measures are intended to ensure security in regions bordering the threatened zones.”
On Sunday, Russia’s defense ministry claimed that its air defense units had intercepted and destroyed 11 Ukrainian drones.
**Zelensky Critiques U.S. Response**
On Saturday, President Zelensky criticized the U.S. embassy for what he termed a “weak” statement that failed to hold Russia accountable for the recent deadly missile strike on his hometown of Kryvyi Rig.
The missile impacted a residential area near a children’s playground in central Ukraine, resulting in the tragic deaths of nine children, aged between three and 17. In a heartfelt social media post, Zelensky called out the U.S. embassy for its reluctance to name Russia as the aggressor.
“Regrettably, the American embassy’s response is surprisingly disappointing: such a powerful nation, yet such a feeble reaction,” Zelensky remarked. “They hesitate to even mention ‘Russian’ when discussing the missile that claimed the lives of children.”
Zelensky’s remarks followed a post by U.S. Ambassador Bridget Brink on X, expressing horror over the missile strike near a playground and restaurant. In his evening address, Zelensky emphasized, “It is both incorrect and perilous to remain silent about the fact that it is Russia perpetrating these crimes against children with ballistic missiles. This only emboldens the perpetrators in Moscow to continue their aggression and disregard diplomatic solutions.”
The president, who hails from Kryvyi Rig, where the pre-war population was approximately 600,000, conveyed his condolences and called for a three-day mourning period on April 7, 8, and 9.
“This is nothing short of a mass murder of civilians,” stated Oleksandr Vilkul, head of the Kryvyi Rig military administration.
Images shared by rescue services depicted several victims, with one body found near a playground swing. In response, Russia’s defense ministry claimed it executed a “precision strike” against a meeting of military commanders and Western instructors in the area. The Ukrainian army’s General Staff countered that Moscow was attempting to obscure its heinous actions and disseminating false information, labeling Russia’s actions as “war crimes.”
While Trump continues to encourage both sides to pursue a ceasefire, his administration has struggled to mediate a mutually acceptable agreement. Zelensky remarked that the missile attack underscored Russia’s lack of interest in halting its full-scale invasion.
The Ukrainian president reported “significant progress” following discussions with British and French military leaders in Kyiv on Friday. They explored plans for a “reassurance” force from London and Paris to be deployed to Ukraine if a resolution to the conflict is achieved.
Zelensky shared on social media that the meeting with British Chief of the Defence Staff Tony Radakin and French counterpart Thierry Burkhard yielded “the initial details on how the security contingent of partners can be deployed.” This initiative represents one of the latest efforts by European leaders to coordinate a response after Trump initiated direct negotiations with the Kremlin, sidelining them.