President-elect Donald Trump has warned that the death toll from the devastating Los Angeles wildfires will rise significantly as local authorities begin using cadaver-sniffing dogs to search for leftover debris.
At least 24 people have died in the blazes, thousands of homes have been gutted since the first inferno broke out last Tuesday, and firefighters are still trying to extinguish dueling blazes.
President Trump criticized Gov. Gavin Newsom for his response to the deadly fires earlier this week, but as first responders begin searching buildings and areas charred by the blaze, 20 confirmed deaths have been reported. said it was likely only a fraction of the actual death toll.
“They're going to find a lot of bodies. Only dogs can find them, right? You know, German shepherds do that. They can pick up remains right away. It's amazing,” Trump said. the president said in an interview with Newsmax. “But we will find many bodies and many more, many more dead.”
The president-elect was reportedly shocked by footage of the extensive fire damage and is considering flying to the Golden State to see the damage firsthand.
“I think there will be more damage than if we were attacked with a nuclear weapon. I've never seen anything like it. Miles and miles of houses burned to the ground. There's nothing left standing,” Trump said. the president told the media.
The wildfire burned more than 40,000 acres, destroyed more than 12,000 structures, and destroyed entire neighborhoods.
Once the dust settles, President Trump plans to renovate the area with new development, a return to his unconventional real estate roots.
“We're going to work with Los Angeles. You know, I'm already putting on my developer cap because it looks literal. I just saw some very discreet photos. And I can believe it. Even so, it’s much worse than what you see on TV,” he said.
