A chilling message of anguish has emerged from the ashes of recent wildfires in a region of Los Angeles near a shipping port. Social media users have been captivated by the words “aid” and “traffic,” eerily visible in the scorched earth on Google Earth satellite images, serving as a poignant reminder of the devastation wrought by the fires.
The words “LAPD,” ”Federal” and “Traffico” can be seen written amid the debris in images circulating online.
Authorities have yet to comment on the footage, but several theories have emerged in X. While some believe it could be a prank by children, others suggest it could be a desperate cry for help from someone affected by the bushfires. One user speculated that it might even be linked to human trafficking, and the victim uses the message to seek help.
“This disturbing message was spotted on Google Maps in Los Angeles, California, with the words ‘help’ and ‘traffic’ written on the rubble, surrounded by shipping containers. The adjacent lot has been confirmed to be a shipping yard, which heightens fears that this could be linked to human trafficking or worse,” one user wrote on X, sharing images of the location near North Mission Road in Los Angeles.
🔥🚨 News: This disturbing message was spotted on Google Maps in Los Angeles, California, with the words “Ayuda” and “Traffico” written on the rubble, surrounded by shipping containers. The lot next to this location has been confirmed to be a shipping yard that has… pic.twitter.com/swvbnsogxu
– Dom Lucre | Breaker of Narratives (@dom_lucre) January 26, 2025
Meanwhile, Los Angeles County crews have spent the past week clearing vegetation, reinforcing roads and stabilizing slopes in areas devastated by the Palisades and Eaton fires. These wildfires, fueled by powerful winds on January 7, reduced entire neighborhoods to ashes.
The Palisades fire, the largest of the fires, destroyed thousands of homes and claimed at least 11 lives. As of Sunday, it was 90% contained. The Eaton Fire, which broke out near Altadena and killed at least 16 people, was 98% contained.