WASHINGTON: US President Joe Biden on Friday likened Los Angeles to a “war scene” as multiple major wildfires continued to devour neighbourhoods around the city.
Biden added that there was “clear evidence” of looting during the mayhem, while also slamming “demagogues” for spreading rampant disinformation about the deadly blazes.
“It reminded me of more of a war scene, where you had certain targets that were bombarded,” Biden said as he received a briefing on the fires in the Oval Office of the White House.
“It´s almost like a battle scene.”
Authorities have imposed a nighttime curfew in parts of Los Angeles hit by the fires amid fears of looting, and Biden said the government was providing security from the military to the National Guard.
“There´s clear evidence that there´s looting. There´s clear evidence that people are going into these survivors´ communities... and looting,” Biden said.
Biden also took a veiled swipe at incoming president Donald Trump, who has spread misinformation over the flames that has then been amplified on social media.
“You´re going to have a lot of demagogues out there trying to take advantage of it,” Biden said of the fires.Massive wildfires that engulfed whole neighbourhoods and displaced thousands in Los Angeles have killed at least 10 people, authorities said, as California´s National Guard soldiers readied to hit the streets to help quell disorder.Swaths of the United States´ second-largest city lay in ruins on Friday, with more than 10,000 structures destroyed according to the state´s fire service.
“I lost everything. My house burned down and I lost everything,” said Hester Callul, who had reached a shelter after fleeing her Altadena home.
Firefighters were battling multiple blazes backed by water-dropping helicopters, thanks to a temporary lull in winds, as the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner announced the death toll had reached 10.
With reports of looting, Los Angeles County ordered a nighttime curfew, and the state´s National Guard was on hand to patrol affected areas.
Governor Gavin Newsom said the service members were part of a thousands-strong deployment of state personnel.
“We´re throwing everything at our disposal -- including our National Guard service members -- to protect communities in the days to come,” he said.
“And to those who would seek to take advantage of evacuated communities, let me be clear: looting will not be tolerated.”
Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said his officers were patrolling evacuation zones and would arrest anyone who was not supposed to be there.
The flames have so far burned more than 35,000 acres (14,160 hectares) in Los Angeles, the state´s fire agency reported.