Wildfires in the Los Angeles area of Southern California have forced residents to remain indoors due to hazardous air quality.
Health officials are warning of the long-term effects of toxic chemicals, ash, and particulate matter, which pose serious health risks to both humans and pets.
Nathaniel Stern, a resident of West Los Angeles, normally spends a lot of time outdoors with his dog. However, a week and a half of wildfires have changed all that. Stern, along with many others, is concerned about the long-term impact of toxic chemicals and ashes in the air.
"This is the first time I've ever seen ashes from the sky here in West Los Angeles. Because of that, the air quality has been so bad, I haven't been able to take him out for a walk around the block or go for my evening runs. We've just been cooped up inside for the past week," said Stern.
The smoke from the fires is harmful to pets as well. Health officials point out that even on seemingly clear days, particulate matter, hazardous soot, and microscopic pollution from the burned areas remain in the air.
"There are fine particulates in the air that are of small size, 2.5 micrometers, much smaller than a human hair, that can be breathed in and lodged deep in your lungs and really cause health problems, especially in the short run for people who have health conditions. But there's also a lot of ash, debris and dust as a result of burning of structures, houses, homes, cars. They can be quite toxic, and they've come in a toxic form. And they are in the ash and the dust," said Dr Anish Mahajan, chief deputy director of Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.
Health officials warn residents to take precautions if they see ash in the air and to wear a mask to avoid exposure.
"[If] they smell smoke or if they're having issues breathing, wear a mask and move out of the area, go to somewhere where it's clear. Right now, we don't have any smoke, but it could easily turn around if we get those red-flag warnings back, and we get a new start even in the area. That could very well happen," said Brent Pascua, CalFire Battalion chief.
Although the Air Quality Index has improved slightly in recent days, officials from the South Coast Air Quality Management District warn that conditions could worsen with more Santa Ana winds in the forecast. In such a case, they advise the public to wear N95 masks, stay indoors, and limit physical exercise.
The fierce wildfires across the Los Angeles area have so far killed at least 27 people and destroyed more than 12,300 structures, local authorities confirmed on Thursday.
Up to 200,000 people have been displaced by the fires. As of Wednesday, some 82,400 residents were under evacuation orders and another 90,400 faced evacuation warnings, according to Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna.
Hazardous air quality forces residents indoors after wildfires in Los Angeles
Hazardous air quality forces residents indoors after wildfires in Los Angeles
The Chinese animated blockbuster Ne Zha 2 began preview screenings in London on Friday ahead of its official release in the country and Ireland on March 21, attracting excited crowds to watch the film in advance.
The film made its debut in the UK at London's BFI IMAX, home to the country's largest IMAX screen and is scheduled to screen in over 250 cinemas of 100 cities across the UK and Ireland during the first week of release.
The film's Europe-wide distributor, Trinity CineAsia, announced that it has acquired theatrical distribution rights for Ne Zha 2 across 37 countries in Europe, including the UK, Ireland, and Germany. This scale of film release is exceptionally rare in the history of overseas distribution for Chinese-language films, reflecting the strong confidence of local cinemas in the movie's market potential.
"The fact that it is here and, you know, that we are getting a lot more influx of films from all across Asia from China, South Korea, Japan, South Asia as well. I think it's really good to kind of like widen the palate, because we all want to escape our little cinematic bubble and see what the rest of the world has to offer," said Jack Martin, a film reviewer, in an interview with the China Central Television (CCTV).
"Ne Zha 2" has shattered global box office records to become the No. 1 box office animated film of all times and also the first non-Hollywood production to crack the global all-time top 10 box office chart.
Rooted in 16th-century Chinese mythology with a bold reinterpretation, the movie has attracted attention of global audiences with its stunning visuals, well-crafted storytelling, and deep cultural heritage.
"And I think all these elements show that Ne Zha 2 is both a film that's modern, but also has its roots in something very deep and very ancient," said Cedric Behrel, managing director of Trinity CineAsia, in an interview with the CCTV.
Many audiences attending the preview screening in London have shared their thoughts about the movie in interviews with the CCTV.
"It was moving like heartwarming. Yes, I'll go home now and talk to it to all my friends," said a moviegoer.
"I thought that the humor of the film was really great, but it balances so perfectly with some of the more dramatic and heartfelt moments of it. And yeah, I really, really enjoyed it. And the language barrier was not a problem at all," said another moviegoer.
"We might not speak the same language, but at its heart is a very universal theme of friendship and just trying to do right in the world. And I think that a lot of people really resonate with that. I can see why it's done so well in China already," said Jack Martin.
James Smith, an social media influencer, shared his views about the movie in Chinese language during the interview. He thought the movie can serve as a bridge for foreigners to understand Chinese culture.
"I watched Ne Zha, the 2019 box office hit, in China. When I heard that its sequel was set to debut in the UK today, I rushed to the cinema to see it. It's definitely a great movie, filled with humor, touching moments, and encouragement. My friends often ask me how they can better understand China, because they think I know something about the country. I would say that you can watch the Ne Zha 2, as I believe it's a great film and through which you can learn something about Chinese culture," he said.
Ne Zha 2 begins preview screenings in London, captivating local audiences
