Officials report that 80 deaths caused by wildfires on the Hawaiian island of Maui have now been officially confirmed. It is a dreadful situation as the numbers are predicted to go higher, making it the deadliest disaster since Hawaii became a state in 1959.
The number of fatalities keeps rising, and coastal settlements, including the legendary town of Lahaina, have seen significant destruction in some areas. Gov. Josh Green brought up the Big Island tsunami of 1960, which claimed 61 lives, and said “This time it's very likely that our death totals will significantly exceed that, I'm afraid.”
Green also claimed that the fires, which now seem to be mostly under control, "maybe upwards of 1,700 buildings" went up in flames. John Pelletier, the chief of police for Maui County, estimates that about 1,000 people are still missing.
But some fires in Lahaina and the neighboring areas are still blazing. “Lahaina, with a few rare exceptions, has been burned down,” the governor said.
At a press conference that followed, Green stated that the damage to the region is in the billions of dollars and he estimated it might require years to recover.
“It’s a profound change of landscape,” adding that the footage of the fire will be available soon.
He appealed to nearby hotels and other businesses to step up and assist with the huge requirement for temporary accommodation for those in need. He stated that the state is first looking for 2,000 accommodations for those who have been displaced by the fires.
“If you have additional space in your home, if you have the capacity to take someone in from West Maui, please do,” Green said.
On Thursday morning, Maui County stated that the central Maui fire in Pulehu was at 70% containment and that the westernmost and most destructive of the three fires, the one in Lahaina, was 80% contained. The fire in the steep Upcountry had not yet been evaluated.
Brad Ventura, the chief of the Maui County Fire Department, stated later in the day that none of the flames are "100% contained right now," and that there are several smaller fires between the larger ones. People were advised to stay away from the region because of the continued possibility of "rapid fire behavior" due to the weather.
After the destruction left behind in Maui by the most catastrophic U.S. wildfire in five years, which also injured dozens, rescue teams looked for survivors on Thursday.
In Lahaina Town, entire blocks of residences, establishments, and a 200-year-old church were demolished or severely damaged. Neighborhoods from a town that dates back to the 1700s were reduced to smoke-filled debris in less than two days, leaving behind charred remains in burned-out cars and destroyed boats in the port.
The Coast Guard saved 14 individuals who rushed into the ocean to escape the fires and smoke, including two children. The fires were fed by wind from Hurricane Dora that was passing nearby and made worse by excessively dry vegetation from the ongoing drought.
“We are still in life-preservation mode. Search and rescue is still a primary concern,” said Adam Weintraub, a spokesperson for Hawaii Emergency Management Agency.
At 9 a.m., noon, and 3 p.m., Hawaii time, officials said they will broadcast daily updates on all AM and FM radio channels.
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