BBC Breakfast’s Naga Munchetty interrupted the live broadcast to bring viewers the latest updates on the wildfires causing havoc across Los Angeles.
On Thursday’s programme (January 9), she was joined by correspondent Helena Humphrey who confirmed that the death toll had risen to five and that the blaze seemed uncontrollable as new fires broke out across the city.
It is now understood that seven massive infernos are tearing through Los Angeles and its neighbouring city, forcing more people to evacuate their homes with minimal possessions. Helena provided an update via video link, with Naga commenting: “When we hear that there is no end in sight, there’s a sense of hopelessness almost.”
In response, Helena told the host: “I think that really stark statistics of fire crews and services saying that we are at zero percent containment really bears, repeating that those blazes are continuing to grow in number, scale and severity.”
Updating live on the situation, she reported: “As we look at Los Angeles this evening, what we can see is another blaze breaking out over the Hollywood hills there,” with fresh footage showing a second fire igniting. She also mentioned, “And right now there are helicopters in the air trying to dump water on the affected area.”
She mournfully relayed that five people have perished in the devastating inferno, which has necessitated the evacuation of over 137,000 residents, reports the Express.
Stars such as Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson were reported to have vacated their property, while Jamie Lee Curtis, Mandy Moore, and Paris Hilton have tragically confirmed the destruction of their homes by the merciless flames.
Continuing her dialogue with the studio’s Naga, she said: “But this is coming at a time when we’ve seen water shortages and fire hydrants running dry and yes A list celebrities being impacted, the likes of Paris Hilton and Billy Crystal for example saying that they have lost their homes.”
In harrowing scenes, residents were spotted fleeing down the iconic Sunset Boulevard clutching their most cherished possessions, pets, and wearing minimal to escape the wrath of the fire as quickly as possible.
As firefighters struggle to control the wildfire, military intervention has been sought in hopes of subduing the rampant conflagration.
“This is a huge country home to almost 10 million people, with a diverse ray of people impacted and we’ve met some of the people at Sunset Boulevard fleeing with their dogs and just their flip flops and pet carriers and carrier bags full of whatever they can take with them but certainly that growing sense of anxiety.”
“We know that military planes will now be deployed and we know that equipment with a fire retardant substance to try and spray that area,” explained the news correspondent who was reporting live from LA.
BBC Breakfast airs daily on BBC One at 6am