Inferno swept through the City of LA: Catastrophic

Thousands of firefighters are working tirelessly to combat at least five massive wildfires raging across the Los Angeles area. The largest of these, the Palisades Fire in Pacific Palisades, has burned over 19,000 acres, destroyed thousands of structures, and remains completely uncontained. Similarly, the Eaton Fire in Altadena has consumed more than 13,000 acres and is also at zero percent containment. Over 180,000 residents have been ordered to evacuate as the fires continue to spread.

On Wednesday, President Joe Biden approved a federal major disaster declaration for Los Angeles County.

Kenya (Tanzania) Hit By First-Ever Cyclone After Weeks of Intense Rainfall and Fatal Flooding

 

A tropical cyclone unleashed heavy rainfall and powerful winds across East Africa over the weekend, adding to the woes of a region already reeling from weeks of extreme weather and fatal floods. Cyclone Hidaya, with wind speeds reaching 165 kph (102.5 mph) and waves nearly eight meters tall, prompted mandatory evacuation orders from the Kenyan Government for residents near 178 dams and water reservoirs in 33 counties. Tanzania faced a widespread blackout and witnessed thousands of displacements. Hidaya, akin to a Category 1 hurricane, marked the first occurrence of its kind in eastern Africa, according to the World Meteorological Organization.

Although local authorities confirmed on Sunday that Cyclone Hidaya had dissipated entirely, the situation in the region, particularly in Tanzania and Kenya, remained critical, with persistent heavy rainfall forecasted until Monday. "Following its landfall at Mafia Island on Saturday, May 4, 2024, Tropical Cyclone Hidaya completely lost its strength. The remnants of the rain clouds that accompanied the cyclone have been observed to weaken and spread out in various areas of the southern region of Tanzania, as confirmed by the Tanzania Meteorological Authority," stated David Gikungu, Director of Kenya’s Meteorological Services.