'2020 in a photo': Covid-19 meets California wildfire in image that sums up this year

 "Your reminder that the climate crisis hasn't stopped for a global pandemic"
The photograph was taken by Noah Berger from the Associated Press
AP
Imogen Braddick21 August 2020

A "remarkable" photograph of a Covid-19 sign being surrounded by the raging California wildfires has encapsulated the devastating events of the year in a single image, with some describing it as "2020 in a photo".

The "terrifying" picture, taken by Associated Press photographer Noah Berger, has been shared thousands of times and praised widely on social media for summing up two of the major events to have dominated the past 12 months.

As firefighters battle devastating wildfires across northern California, the photograph is a stark reminder of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, which broke out at the end of last year but swept across the world in 2020.

The image taken outside a senior centre in Napa County shows flames surrounding a sign which says "wear a mask, wash your hands, social distance, stay safe".

It adds: "Come join us."

California Wildfires: August/September 2020 - In pictures

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The blaze went on to destroy multiple homes near Lake Berryessa.

One Twitter user said: "This photo should be in the running for a Pulitzer."

Another said: "Your reminder that the climate crisis hasn't stopped for a global pandemic."

A third described the photo as "surreal".

Hundreds of fires are burning across the US state, including 23 major fires which governor Gavin Newsom blamed on "all of these lightning strikes".

Wildfires have been raging in northern California for several weeks
AP

On Thursday, he said the state has recorded nearly 11,000 lightning strikes in 72 hours and knows of 367 fires.

The wildfires have now claimed at least five lives and threaten tens of thousands of homes, authorities said.

Three people have died in Napa County, while another was killed in Solano County.

A helicopter pilot died after the aircraft crashed an hour from New Coalinga Municipal Airport while dropping water in western Fresno County.

Meanwhile, the global coronavirus death toll is nearing 800,000.

The United States alone has recorded 174,283 deaths, followed by Brazil, where 112,304 people have died after contracting coronavirus.

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