Concerns have been voiced for former WWE superstar Melina Perez amid the tragic wildfires that have raged across Los Angeles.
Since Tuesday, eight wildfires have been confirmed in the LA area, with firefighters working tirelessly to contain them.
The devastating blazes have resulted in the confirmed deaths of 16 people, with authorities stating that another 13 people are currently missing, per BBC News. Officials have warned that the number of fatalities is expected to rise.
Additionally, more than 10,000 buildings and structures have been destroyed, as more than 150,000 people have been evacuated from affected areas, with strict overnight curfews in place to ensure public safety.
As of this writing, three of the fires remain active.
With investigations and search and rescue efforts underway, fears for the former WWE women’s champion Melina Perez have been shared by her peers on social media.
Cauliflower Alley Club – a non-profit corporation that helps current and former professional wrestlers – tweeted on Sunday: “Reading on X that apparently former WWE superstar Melina has reportedly been unreachable amidst the wildfire [outbreak] in Los Angeles.
“If anyone knows her whereabouts or can contact her it would be a great relief to everyone concerned about her [safety]. Please share, Thank you.”
Additionally, the A Matter Of Pride Wrestling group also tweeted this weekend: “URGENT: @RealMelina
“We’re deeply concerned as WWE Legend Melina has been unresponsive amidst the troubling events unfolding in Los Angeles. If anyone has seen or heard from her, please report her safe. Any information helps. Thank you. Please share.”
Perez, 45, was born in Los Angeles and raised in California’s High Desert, The Week reports.
She transitioned from modeling to wrestling and made her WWE debut in 2004 as part of the fashionable ‘MNM’ trio alongside Joey Mercury and Johnny Nitro (now known as John Morrison).
During her time in the company, Perez wrestled under the ringname ‘Melina’ and captured both the WWE Women’s Championship and the Divas Championship.
Her last WWE appearance was in 2022 when she entered the women’s Royal Rumble match at number two, and she has recently competed in the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA).
Last month, she appeared as a special guest at RCAW’s Winter Warfare in Richmond, Indiana, per the Daily Star.
Following the concerning news, fans have taken to Perez’s social media pages to comment for the star’s safety:
As of this writing, Perez has not responded to the concerns on social media.
Meanwhile, early estimates suggest that recovery efforts in the Los Angeles area could cost upwards of $150 billion. AccuWeather has projected the staggering financial toll, while Aris Papadopoulos, founder of the Resilience Action Fund, told Fortune that rebuilding could take up to a decade, based on past disasters of similar magnitude.
Our thoughts go out to every person impacted by this developing tragedy.