US Wildfire Damage Expands... 15 Dead, 500,000 Evacuated

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] As wildfires in the western United States expand, the damage is also increasing. The death toll has risen to 15, and evacuation orders have been issued to more than 500,000 people.

According to U.S. media on the 11th (local time), the wildfire crisis in the U.S. West Coast areas including California, Oregon, and Washington has worsened.

The wildfire death toll increased from 7 the previous day to 15. Since search operations are underway for homes affected by the wildfires, the number of deaths is likely to rise further.

The scale of wildfire damage in California is 20 times the area of Seoul (approximately 605㎢).

In Oregon, Ted Wheeler, mayor of Portland, declared a state of emergency the previous night, and Kate Brown, governor of Oregon, said, "We have never seen so many uncontained wildfires across our state."

According to Oregon, evacuation orders have been issued to about 500,000 residents so far. This accounts for more than 10% of Oregon's total population.

Gavin Newsom, governor of California, tweeted, "Six of the 20 largest wildfires in California history have occurred this year," urging, "Please evacuate immediately if you are asked to do so."

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