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Firefighters are fighting several wildfires in the US state of Texas that are spreading rapidly. Governor Greg Abbott (66) declared disaster for 60 communities on Tuesday (local time) so that aid could be better coordinated centrally. The fires in the north of the state threatened populated areas that had to be evacuated. Strong winds and drought further fanned the flames.
Abbott expected weather conditions in the region would not improve in the coming days – and that the wildfires could become even bigger and more dangerous.
“It seems like the end of the world”
Texas authorities say the fire has already burned about 1,500 square kilometers of land. About 4,000 households in the region are without power, Poweroutage.com reported Wednesday morning. Initially there were no reports of deaths or injuries.
“Texans are urged to limit activities that could cause sparks and take precautions to ensure the safety of their loved ones,” the governor warned.
The flames particularly endangered the small town of Canadian, Texas, near the border with the state of Oklahoma. There, patients had to leave a clinic and be taken to safety about 80 kilometers away, CNN reported. The residents of two healthcare institutions have also moved.
In fact, the entire place should be evacuated, CNN wrote. But roads were closed due to the fires and authorities ultimately advised people on Facebook to stay in the city. ‘It seems like the end of the world. All the trees are covered with white ash,” a shopkeeper in the city told the station.
More than 25 degrees in the region
In the town of Fritch, which has a population of 2,000 and is about an hour and a half drive away, about 200 people took refuge from the flames in a church, according to CNN. “We have many people in the facility who have confirmed that they have lost their homes,” Pastor Dwight Kirksey told CNN. “Of course they are devastated and heartbroken.”
US media reported unusually high temperatures in the region. According to the Washington Post, last week there were highs of well above 25 degrees Celsius instead of the usual 15 degrees at this time of year.
“We saw tragedies today and we saw miracles,” the Moore County Sheriff’s Office wrote on Facebook that evening. “Today was a historic event that will hopefully never be repeated.” (SDA)
Source: Blick
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
