A China Media Group (CMG) reporter recorded the "war zone-like" wildfires raging in the north of Los Angeles in California, the United States, on Wednesday night.
Multiple major wildfires raging across Los Angeles County, the most populous U.S. county, has killed at least five people and damaged at least 1,100 buildings, authorities said Wednesday.
California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency on Tuesday after tens of thousands of people were ordered to evacuate due to a fast-moving wildfire in California.
According to the CMG reporter Liu Xiaoqian, fire has been burning all day at multiple locations in the area on Wednesday, and local residents have received evacuation messages.
"This road is now completely closed, with access restricted to fire engines. A strong smell of burning fills the air, creating a scene reminiscent of a war zone. You can hear the crackling sound of fires raging," said Liu on site.
The video footage from Liu shows widespread destructions caused by the fire, with numerous buildings, vehicles, and road signs reduced to ruins. Dense smoke and fire flames can be seen along the roads.
According to Liu, the vast area affected by the fire means that the local fire department has resources only to deal with large-scale blazes.
"The wildfire currently sweeping across multiple areas of Los Angeles is the most severe one the city has ever experienced. Scenes like this large-scale fire are just the beginning, as the fire is spreading in all directions across the city. At present, firefighters can only focus on containing large-scale fires like this one to prevent further spread," he said.
U.S. President Joe Biden decided to cancel his scheduled trip to Italy to "remain focused on directing the full federal response" to California wildfires, a White House spokesperson said in a statement on Wednesday night.
CMG reporter experience "war zone-like" wildfires in LA
CMG reporter experience "war zone-like" wildfires in LA
Beijing has stepped up efforts to provide support to international travelers with enhanced service centers and assistance points being set up at airports in the Chinese capital, as the expansion of visa-free policies in China sees the arrival of more people from overseas.
One-stop service counters have been operational in the international arrival areas of the Beijing Capital International Airport and the city's Daxing International Airport since the start of the year.
The counters offer over 20 types of essential services in areas such as finance, communication, transportation, culture and tourism, ensuring foreign visitors can find convenient information to help their travel go smoothly.
Foreign travelers can visit the counters to make cash withdrawals with their bank cards, exchange currency, and get help with downloading local mobile payment apps.
In the Mobile Services area, services such as the issuance of SIM cards for mobile phones and airport Wi-Fi access are provided.
Wang Shuo, an employee from China Unicom, one of the country's largest telecoms companies, introduced a special SIM card which is being offered to international travelers.
"It basically has three basic functions. First, it works like a regular SIM card, which means you can make phone calls and go on the Internet. Another one is you can make a payment with it without download any apps. You don't need Alipay, you don't need to download WeChat. The last function will be [for] taking public transportation, which means you can take buses or the subway," he said.
Additionally, travelers can buy a 'Beijing Pass' -- a versatile card designed to simplify transportation, sightseeing and shopping payments.
The counters also offer help and advice on how to buy subway tickets or airport shuttle bus passes, while a selection of brochures featuring cultural, sports and business activities are also available.
Staff say they are on-hand around the clock to offer assistance to all arrivals.
"We are here 24 hours a day and seven days a week. And if you have any questions, just come to this counter. We will try our best to help you and we always provide information about the terminal facilities and transportation and how to use the mobile payments and the common applications in China," said Cai Pengcheng, a staff member at a service center at the Beijing Capital International Airport.
Beijing continues to enhance services, assistance for int'l visitors
