August 21, 2020

Anna Murray 

US California had a catastrophic heat wave and a blitz of lightning strikes in the state's northern areas. At least 5 people have died as a result of clusters of fires merged into orange infernos that are creeping up on residential areas, turning neighborhoods into ash and smoldering ruins.

According to CZU Lightning Fire forces evacuation of Felton in Scotts Valley, there were more than 50,000 residents evacuated as fire swells to 48,000 acres in Santa Cruz Mountains. The SCU Lightning Complex burning largely north and east of San Jose had torched over 157,475 acres. As for the LNU Lightning Complex in the northern Bay Area, including Vacaville, a city of 100,000 residents between Sacramento and San Francisco, it was reported that one of the hardest hits had torched 215,000 acres.

As tens of thousands of people have evacuated to shelters, they fear the risk of being infected coronavirus pandemic after California became the first state to surpass 600,000 COVID-19 cases recorded recently. California Governor Gavin Newsom addressed the wildfires and called them clear evidence of climate change.

Photo:Webshot.