Ministry of Foreign Affairs Confirms No Indonesian Citizens Killed in Los Angeles Wildfires

Author: Dian Kencana
January 12, 2025

Wildfires in Los Angeles burned homes. (ANTARA)

SEAToday.com, Jakarta - The Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Kemlu RI) confirmed that, as of now, no Indonesian nationals have been reported among the fatalities caused by the forest fires in Los Angeles, California, United States.

Based on coordination with local authorities and the Indonesian community, the ministry stated that no reports have been received regarding Indonesian citizens falling victim to the fires, according to the Director General for the Protection of Indonesian Citizens (Ditjen PWNI) at Kemlu, Judha Nugraha, through a press release on Saturday in Jakarta.

However, Judha added that the Indonesian Consulate General in Los Angeles (KJRI LA) had received reports of four Indonesian nationals affected by the fires, who are now receiving assistance from the consulate.

Additionally, several Indonesian diaspora members with foreign citizenship were reported to have lost their homes due to the disaster.

Kemlu and KJRI LA are continuously monitoring the situation, and the Indonesian Consul General in Los Angeles has visited local evacuation shelters in Pasadena. As part of its emergency response, KJRI LA has prepared shelters and logistical support for affected Indonesian nationals.

Advisories have also been issued through various platforms, urging Indonesians to stay vigilant, monitor information on fire locations, follow evacuation instructions from local authorities, and contact the KJRI LA hotline at +1 (213) 590-8095 in case of emergency.

As of Friday (10/1) local time, new fire hotspots continued to emerge, including a new one in Kenneth Hills on the previous day. By Saturday, the fire in the Pacific Palisades area had spread further, reaching Santa Monica.

While firefighting efforts are ongoing, the fire in Hollywood Hills has been successfully extinguished, and evacuation warnings for the area have been lifted.

As of Sunday (1/12), 13 fatalities have been reported as a result of the fires.