LA Wildfires "worst in history"...The death toll continues to rise.

[Anchor]
The simultaneous wildfires in Los Angeles, the largest city in the western United States, have continued for a third day in strong winds, increasing casualties and property damage.

It is predicted that it will record the largest damage among wildfires in the United States.

I'll connect you to the international department.

Reporter Yoon Hyun-sook, please tell us.

[Reporter]
At least 10 people have been confirmed dead so far in the fires that swept through Los Angeles.

It is still in the early stages of counting casualties, so the number of casualties is expected to increase further in the future.

The forest fire has burned 13,750ha, more than 47 times the area of Yeouido (290ha),

Almost the size of San Francisco has been burned, but the flames are still not completely contained.

More than 10,000 homes have been affected by two major wildfires in the Palisades, west of L.A., and Eton, east of L.A.

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.

Strong winds, which once reached a maximum of 160 km/h, died down a little overnight, but tensions are growing as strong winds are forecast again today.

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 highest amount of damage ever among wildfires in the United States was the 2018 Northern California wildfire, with $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.

Vice President Harris also canceled his last foreign trip to his 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.

Smoke warnings have been issued across L.A. as air pollution intensifies due to simultaneous wildfires that have been going on for three days.

Drinking water warnings have been issued in some areas, leading to hoarding of drinking water.

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