Pope Francis on Saturday conveyed his regret over the devastation caused by the massive California wildfires, as well as his spiritual closeness to the victims in a telegram to the archbishop of Los Angeles.
“Saddened by the loss of life and the widespread destruction,” the pontiff offered his “spiritual closeness” to the victims. Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s number two, wrote in the telegram.
At least 11 people were killed as flames rushed through neighborhoods and demolished thousands of homes in a calamity that US President Joe Biden compared to a “war scene.” While Angelenos deal with the heartbreaking devastation, frustration has grown over officials’ readiness and response, particularly following a series of false evacuation sirens and hydrants running dry as firefighters battled the initial blazes.
Governor Gavin Newsom on Friday ordered a “full independent review” of the city’s utilities, calling the absence of water supply during the early fires “deeply troubling.”
“We need answers as to how that happened,” he stated in an open letter. Five distinct fires have burned more than 37,000 acres (15,000 hectares) and destroyed approximately 10,000 houses, according to California’s fire agency.
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office reported another fatality on Friday, bringing the total death toll to 11.