Disturbing messages written on the ground in Los Angeles have taken the internet by storm, and now locals have shed new light on their meaning.
Google Earth users spotted multiple instances of the world ‘HELP’ spelled out using various materials on a plot of storage or waste facility in California city, located next to a shipping yard and near the Union Pacific Railroad.
This area is about one mile east of Los Angeles City Hall, situated between the Los Angeles River, North Mission Road and E Cesar E Chavez Avenue. Its coordinates are 34°03’18’N 118°13’30’W.
The Spanish words ‘TRAFFICO’ (traffic) and ‘TERRORISMO,’ (terrorism) also appear, as well as ‘LAPD,’ ‘FEDERAL,’ and ‘FBI.’
The images went viral on social media over the weekend, sparking fears that someone may be trying to alert the public or law enforcement to a human trafficking operation in the area.
One Reddit user wrote: ‘This sounds like someone or a group are being trafficked and used materials available to them to spell out an SOS. I hope if a random person noticed, authorities noticed as well.’
‘We have all known for a long time that shipping containers are being used for human trafficking,’ one X user posted, referencing the location’s close proximity to the shipping yard.
Concerned viewers also pointed out what appears to be holes or tunnel entrances nearby, speculating that nefarious activity may be taking place inside.
While Google Earth images are not real-time, locals claimed the disturbing calls for help were still there when they investigated the scene.
Disturbing messages written on the ground in Los Angeles have taken the internet by storm, and now locals have shed new light on their meaning
One such person, who goes by ‘LAguy’ on X, spoke with a woman experiencing homelessness who lives near the lot.
She told him the words were written by a man named Jose who has been writing them ‘for years.’
‘[José’s] the one who puts [help] all the time,’ she said. ‘He writes it everywhere […] it’s been years,’ she added, though she made clear she didn’t know the reason why he has been writing the messages.
Others claiming to live nearby offered similar explanations.
‘Live in the area, it’s a homeless dude who isn’t all there. Been doing it for a few years now. Paints it on roads and sidewalks, uses rocks and other materials and lays them out next to freeways to spell out ‘HELP,’ one X user posted.
Others have suggested that the messages could be a prank by kids in the area.
But some remain alarmed, arguing that a more sinister explanation for the messages can not be ruled out yet. They have urged locals to investigate the situation further.
‘We need to find Jose and make sure it not human trafficking,’ one X user who claims to be a longtime LA resident posted.
‘Bro, interview Jose about his thoughts on human trafficking. I wouldn’t go anywhere that’s out of most folks line of sight without being armed,’ another replied to LAguy’s video.
Officials have not commented on the numerous images and videos from this bizarre plot that have accumulated online, and the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) did not immediately respond to DailyMail.com’s request for comment.
At this time, there is no evidence to suggest that human trafficking or any other form of criminal activity is taking place at this location, but many concerned members of the public are still pushing for more answers.
This bizarre story comes during one of the most difficult moments in Los Angeles history.
The city has begun a massive cleanup and rebuilding effort following devastating wildfires that ravaged the area for three weeks, causing an estimated $250billion in damages.
This week, LA is finally getting some much-needed rain, but now officials are warning residents of the risk of mudslides around the county’s fire zones.
Burn areas have 10 percent to 20 percent chance of significant flash flooding and debris flows capable of damaging roads and homes in and around areas destroyed by wildfires, the Los Angeles Times reported.
‘This is the worst-case scenario to prepare for,’ Kristan Lund, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard, told the paper.
With tensions already high as LA residents brace for another potential natural disaster, many are hoping for happy ending to the mysterious ‘HELP’ messages discovered in their community.
‘The ‘HELP’ signs in LA are concerning, especially with the trafficking speculation. It’s unsettling. I hope the situation is clarified soon. Looking forward to further investigation,’ one X user posted.
This article was originally published by a www.dailymail.co.uk . Read the Original article here. .