WASHINGTON: US  President Joe Biden called the raging wildfires in New Mexico, which have been burning for weeks, a "major disaster," releasing millions of dollars in relief for those affected and local recovery efforts.

"A serious disaster occurs in the state of New Mexico," the White House said late Wednesday. According to the statement, federal assistance might include grants for temporary housing and house repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programmes to assist local residents and business owners in recovering from the wildfire damage.

On Tuesday, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham of New Mexico requested a federal disaster declaration. "I have 6,000 people who have been evacuated, and I have families who don't know what tomorrow will bring," Lujan Grisham added.

According to the National Interagency Fire Center, there are presently seven wildfires burning in New Mexico, the most of any state. The Calf Canyon and Hermits Peak fire, which originated as two big fires in mid-April and combined more than a week ago in northern New Mexico, where strong winds continued for 24 of the last 30 days, is one of the flames.

Authorities say the fire has burnt over 160,000 acres and destroyed hundreds of houses.
Furthermore, the Calf Canyon and Hermits Peak fire, the second-largest fire in New Mexico in at least 30 years, might endanger over 15,000 houses this week, according to a CNN report citing the Southwest Incident Management Team.

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