Two more people are missing after a devastating wildfire in Colorado, surprising photos show homes burning under a carpet of snow | abroad

And Saturday, three people are still being sought, but one has since been found. “We are fortunate that we do not have a list of 100 missing persons,” Boulder Police Chief Joe Bailey said earlier. He added that the search for the missing is difficult. “The buildings that these people were supposed to be in have been completely destroyed and covered in a twenty centimeter layer of snow.”

The police chief said that, contrary to previous reports, the fire was not caused by power lines being cut. The reason is still under investigation. At least 33,000 people were evacuated suddenly on Thursday after the fire broke out, which was fueled by winds of at least 160 kilometers per hour. The high winds made the fire extremely fast and extremely destructive.

Entire wards in the boroughs of Superior and Louisville have been reduced to ashes. At least 991 homes were set ablaze. It happened “in the blink of an eye,” said Colorado Governor Jared Polis. “Families only had minutes to pack whatever they could bring — their pets and children — into the car and leave,” the governor said.

Wildfires are more common in Colorado, but not usually this time of year. The US state has been experiencing severe drought for years, which makes the subsoil more flammable.

Sudden winter weather accompanied by snowfall The spread of the fire on Friday was largely paralyzed. As a result, the authorities have since been able to withdraw all their evacuation orders. People with respiratory problems are strongly advised to stay indoors and close windows and doors, as snow and wind prevent smoke from burning and glowing vegetation near the ground.

“In a few places there is still debris and smoke rising from the smoke, partly covered in snow,” Governor Jared Polis said. “It’s a really strange and disturbing contradiction.”

Pictures from last Thursday:

Also watch out: Residents flee in panic due to forest fires