On the third day of the L.A. wildfire, "The devastation of the affected area...7 dead".

[Anchor]
The damage is spreading as simultaneous wildfires in Los Angeles, the largest city in the western United States, continue for a third day in strong winds.

So far, seven people have been killed and 180,000 have been ordered to evacuate, and the damage is expected to be $50 billion and 73 trillion won in Korean money, the largest damage among wildfires in the United States.

I'll connect you to the international department. Reporter Yoon Hyunsook!

Please pass it on.

[Reporter]
A total of seven people have died so far, with two more confirmed deaths from the fires that swept through Los Angeles, Reuters reported.

180,000 people across L.A. County were ordered to evacuate as strong winds struggled to extinguish wildfires.

Electricity and gas supplies have also been cut in some areas.

The L.A. fire department said in a press briefing that strong winds make it difficult to extinguish and that the wildfire is the most destructive natural disaster in L.A. history.

JPMorgan Chase, the largest financial company in the U.S., estimates that the economic damage caused by the wildfires in LA County will be $50 billion to date and 73 trillion won in our money.

The largest amount of damage ever among U.S. wildfires to date was the 2018 Northern California wildfire, which was $12.5 billion and about 18.25 trillion won.

[Anchor]
The U.S. government also announced additional support measures.

[Reporter]
U.S. President Biden held an L.A. wildfire meeting at the White House on the afternoon of the 9th local time,

"We will increase the cost of federal recovery by 100%," he said, adding that the federal government will cover all costs over the next six months.

It also introduced that it mobilized all federal personnel and equipment, including 30 firefighting helicopters and aircraft, and secured additional firefighters and firefighting aircraft in Canada.

President Biden diagnosed that global warming is having a serious impact on the cause of the simultaneous forest fires.

Earlier, President Biden canceled his planned trip to Italy due to the spread of wildfire damage.

Today, Vice President Harris also canceled her last foreign trip to her term, which was scheduled from the 13th.

[Anchor]
In the meantime, so-called "empty house robbers" are on the rise in wildfire-affected areas.

[Reporter]
L.A. County Sheriff Robert Luna said in a press briefing on the 9th local time that he would never tolerate misconduct taking advantage of the wildfire crisis, arresting 20 suspected looting and thefts after the wildfire.

Sheriff Luna also warned that outsiders roaming areas ordered to evacuate would be subject to arrest.

Suspected arson cases have also been reported in some areas.

Andrew Huberman, a well-known podcaster living in L.A., released a video of the arson on the social media platform X, accusing people of lighting fires in areas that have not been affected by wildfires.

In a related development, L.A. Fire Chief Christine Crowley said in a CNN interview that a total of 21 officials, including 16 fire officers and a special sniffer dog, are investigating the Palisades fire.

I'm YTN's Hyunsuk Yoon in the international department.