SAN DIEGO — A small private plane crashed into a densely populated San Diego neighborhood early Thursday morning, sparking fires across roughly 15 homes and multiple vehicles, and forcing urgent evacuations as thick fog blanketed the area.

The crash occurred around 3:45 a.m. near Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport in the Murphy Canyon neighborhood, where many military families reside. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed the aircraft was a Cessna 550, a small jet typically seating six to eight passengers. The number of people onboard has not yet been confirmed.

“We have jet fuel all over the place,” said Assistant Fire Chief Dan Eddy at a press briefing. “Our main goal is to search all these homes and get everybody out right now.”

Eddy described the scene as a “direct hit to multiple homes” with a “gigantic debris field” scattered through the neighborhood. Emergency crews moved quickly to evacuate several blocks and contain the fires.

Thick fog significantly reduced visibility at the time of the crash. “You could barely see in front of you,” Eddy said.

Terrifying Wake-Up Call for Residents

Christopher Moore, who lives just a street away from the crash site, described being jolted awake by a loud bang. “We looked out the window and saw smoke,” he said. He and his wife grabbed their two children and fled the house.

“As we were leaving, we saw a car completely on fire. It was definitely horrifying, but sometimes you’ve just got to drop your head and get to safety,” Moore added.

Investigation Underway

The FAA said the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will lead the investigation into what caused the crash. Weather conditions, including heavy fog, will likely be a key focus.

This isn’t the first time the area has faced such tragedy. In October 2021, a twin-engine plane crashed while preparing to land at the same airport, killing the pilot and a UPS driver on the ground, and damaging nearby homes.

As of now, there have been no confirmed reports of injuries or fatalities from Thursday’s crash, but authorities are continuing to assess the scene and account for residents. Updates will follow as more information becomes available.

Source: AP News – Small plane crashes into San Diego neighborhood, setting homes and vehicles on fire

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Hundreds Evacuated as Guatemala’s Volcano of Fire Erupts

Guatemala’s Volcano of Fire erupted overnight, forcing the evacuation of nearly 300 families, while authorities warn that another 30,000 people in the region could be at risk.

The 12,300-foot (3,763-meter) volcano, one of Central America’s most active, last erupted in June 2023. Although there are no immediate reports of casualties, the eruption has triggered school closures and the shutdown of a key road connecting communities.

Volcanic Activity and Rising Danger

The eruption sent gas and ash high into the sky on Monday, prompting Guatemala’s disaster agency to issue urgent warnings.

• Claudinne Ugalde, secretary of the disaster agency, emphasized the potential danger, stating, “Some 30,000 people are at risk in these three jurisdictions, and we are encouraging them to evacuate or self-evacuate.”
• The biggest concern is lahars—a deadly mixture of ash, rock, mud, and debris—which can bury entire towns if they gain momentum.

Memories of 2018 Tragedy

The eruption has raised fears among residents, especially those who remember the devastating 2018 eruption, which killed 194 people and left 234 missing.

Isaac García, 43, a resident of El Porvenir, recalled the past disaster when he and his family decided to evacuate early Monday.

“We were a little worried because a few years ago the volcano became active,” García said, referencing the 2018 tragedy. Wearing a mask to protect himself from falling ash, he arrived at a shelter in San Juan Alotenango with his mother, wife, three children, and other relatives.

Government Response and Ongoing Threat

Located just 33 miles (53 km) from Guatemala’s capital, the Volcano of Fire remains a serious threat. Authorities report that while the current volcanic flow is weak to moderate, it is expected to increase in intensity.

Emergency shelters have been opened, and residents in high-risk zones are urged to remain vigilant as the situation develops.

Source

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Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has denied claims that his departure from Syria was planned, according to a statement posted Monday on the Syrian Presidency’s Telegram account. This marks the first time Assad has publicly addressed the events leading to his ousting earlier this month.

In the statement, purportedly from Assad, he insisted that he stayed in Damascus until the final hours before being evacuated to Russia.

Assad: “Departure Was Unplanned”

“My departure from Syria was neither planned nor did it occur during the final hours of the battles, as some have claimed. On the contrary, I remained in Damascus, carrying out my duties until the early hours of Sunday, December 8, 2024,” the statement read.

Assad claimed he moved to Russia’s airbase in Hmeimim on the morning of December 8 at Moscow’s request. Later that day, Russian officials evacuated him and his family when the base came under attack.

Collapse of Damascus Triggered Evacuation

The statement further alleged that the fall of Damascus and the collapse of Syria’s state institutions left no alternative but to evacuate.
“With no viable means of leaving the base, Moscow requested the base’s command arrange an immediate evacuation to Russia on the evening of December 8. This took place a day after Damascus fell, following the collapse of the final military positions and the paralysis of all remaining state institutions,” Assad explained.

“No Plans to Step Down”

Assad denied considering resignation or seeking asylum before his evacuation.
“At no point during these events did I consider stepping down or seeking refuge, nor was such a proposal made by any individual or party. The only course of action was to continue fighting against the terrorist onslaught,” he stated.

Assad justified his departure by claiming his position became meaningless after Syria’s takeover by what he described as “terrorists.”
“When the state falls into the hands of terrorism and the ability to make a meaningful contribution is lost, any position becomes void of purpose, rendering its occupation meaningless.”

Asylum in Russia

Assad and his family were granted asylum in Russia for “humanitarian reasons,” according to Russian officials. They arrived in Moscow late on December 8, following their evacuation from the Hmeimim airbase.

While it remains unclear if Assad controls the Telegram account from which the statement was posted, the message provides insight into his perspective on the dramatic fall of his regime and his subsequent relocation to Russia.

Source

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