About 42,000 people evacuated due to a major fire in the U.S.
A large-scale evacuation has been declared in the area of the American city of Reno, Nevada, because of a wildfire that spread rapidly and reached the outskirts of the community.
Authorities have ordered the mandatory evacuation of tens of thousands of residents.
According to available data, about 42,000 people have been ordered to leave their homes immediately. Another roughly 45,000 residents have been advised to prepare for a possible evacuation and to follow further instructions from emergency services.
The report of the fire came in on the morning of Saturday, August 23, at around 11:15 a.m. local time. According to preliminary information from local authorities, the fire was caused by human activity. Its spread was aided by strong winds and unstable weather conditions, which is why the situation remains hard to predict.
As of Sunday, the fire had engulfed about 15,000 acres of territory, which corresponds to approximately 23 square miles. At the same time, not a single section of the fire's perimeter had been contained at that point.
About 13,700 homes ended up in the mandatory evacuation zone. For residents forced to leave their homes, authorities have set up two temporary shelters.
According to official services, six people were injured as a result of the fire.
Reno is located in the western part of the state of Nevada, not far from the border with California, and the city's population is about 280,000 people.
Source: BBC
