{"id":1834,"date":"2025-02-15T10:41:03","date_gmt":"2025-02-15T07:41:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/planeta21vek.ru\/eng\/?p=1834"},"modified":"2025-11-20T12:38:09","modified_gmt":"2025-11-20T09:38:09","slug":"researchers-have-documented-the-destruction-of-infrastructure-due-to-climate-change-and-extreme-weather-conditions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/planeta21vek.ru\/eng\/2025\/02\/15\/researchers-have-documented-the-destruction-of-infrastructure-due-to-climate-change-and-extreme-weather-conditions\/","title":{"rendered":"Researchers have documented the destruction of infrastructure due to climate change and extreme weather conditions"},"content":{"rendered":"

In January 2025, the largest fire in U.S. history occurred. Other infrastructure destruction is linked to the land sinking in cities \u2014 a study by NASA and NOAA found that California is sinking in some areas: The rising and falling of the land, which the researchers called \u201cvertical land motion,\u201d is caused by natural processes like the movement of tectonic plates, according to the study. Then, according to a new report from The New York Times, bridges are under unprecedented stress due to climate events, including extreme temperatures, increased flooding, and severe soil erosion. And finally, rat populations are growing in cities around the world due to climate change.<\/span><\/p>\n

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The damage caused by the ongoing wildfires in southern California could amount to $250 billion to $275 billion<\/strong><\/span>,<\/span> The Washington Post reported on January 17, citing data from weather reporting company AccuWeather. AccuWeather previously believed that the fires had caused economic losses of $135 billion to $150 billion.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\nMarcio Jose Sanchez \/ AP \/ TASS<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

“These are already some of the worst wildfires in California history,” said the company’s chief meteorologist, Jonathan Porter.<\/span><\/p>\n

The publication recalls that the two largest fires \u2014 in the Pacific Palisades area west of Los Angeles and Altadine to the east of Los Angeles \u2014 destroyed more than 12,000 buildings. In particular, some of the most expensive residential buildings in the country burned down \u2014 in the area between Santa Monica and Malibu. The average price of real estate there is $2 million.<\/span><\/p>\n

According to AccuWeather, the current fires have surpassed such recent natural disasters in the United States as the Hawaiian wildfires in 2023 and Hurricane Helene in 2024 in terms of damage. Thus, the Hawaiian fires destroyed more than 2.2 thousand buildings, causing damage of $5.5 billion; losses from Hurricane Helene amounted to $225 billion – $250 billion.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\nSmoke billows from California’s forest fires. Ethan Swope \/ AP \/ TASS<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

On January 22, a new wildfire started in the Castaic area of \u200b\u200bCalifornia. The fire spread to more than 4,000 hectares in Los Angeles and Ventura counties. Local authorities ordered 31,000 people to evacuate. Another 23,000 were asked to leave dangerous areas voluntarily. Four thousand firefighters were called in to extinguish the fire in Los Angeles County. Three schools were evacuated from the areas affected by the fire.<\/span><\/p>\n

About 480 inmates were also evacuated from the county jail in Castaic. Several buildings at the jail house 4,700 people, and officials were working on a larger evacuation plan. The Angeles National Forest, northeast of Los Angeles, is closed to visitors because of the fires.<\/span><\/p>\n