Hawaii’s Deadliest: 67 Perish in Devastating Fires
The mortality toll from the Hawaii wildfires has reached 67, making it the deadliest natural disaster in the history of the state.
Hundreds more missing persons have been reported, and the number may continue to rise.
On Friday, some fire-ravaged Lahaina residents will be permitted to momentarily return home to assess the damage caused by the blaze.
They returned despite dire warnings that they would be met with “destruction like they’ve never seen before.”
On Friday, state officials reopened Lahaina to residents with confirmation of residency for the first time since early this week, when flames swept through the historic town and destroyed much of it.
People who were evacuated with nothing but the clothes on their backs expressed concern to the BBC that it may be difficult to verify their residency.
A daily curfew will be in effect from 22:00 to 06:00 local time, and access to some of the town’s hardest-hit areas will be restricted to search and rescue personnel.
Lahaina, located in West Maui, is still without power and water. Search crews remain in the area searching for victims of the wildfire.
On the Honoapiilani Highway, one of the only available routes into Lahaina, vehicles were backed up bumper-to-bumper, with families appearing exhausted and concerned next to water- and fuel-carrying trucks.
One family told the BBC that they remained in Lahaina during the worst of the fire, departing only on Thursday to purchase essential supplies.
Their home remained standing, but they were “sitting in the dark.”
The family told the BBC that they expect the number of confirmed fatalities, which is already significant, to increase even further. “On our street alone, there are fifty people,” a family member stated.
ALSO READ: Historic Lahaina Burns in Hawaii Wildfires
Friday, Governor Josh Green warned Hawaiians that what they would find in Lahaina would be challenging.
“Lahaina is a severely damaged area. They will see destruction unlike anything they’ve ever seen in their lives, the governor said as he toured the town on Thursday. “Be extremely safe and cautious.”
He stated that it will take many years to repair the damage wrought by the island of Maui’s wildfires. More than a thousand structures were destroyed in Lahaina, a coastal community with a rich history that attracts approximately two million tourists annually.
Maui County officials confirmed 12 additional fatalities in Lahaina on Friday.
This makes it Hawaii’s deadliest natural catastrophe, surpassing a 1960 tsunami that claimed 61 lives.
Even though some residents were permitted to return to Lahaina on Friday, many of the evacuees at the War Memorial Stadium shelter, approximately 20 miles (32 kilometers) from the historic town, are not in a hurry to return.
As the majority of them narrowly escaped their burning homes, they are certain that nothing remains for them to return to.
Many individuals told the BBC that they were simply grateful to be alive.
Reconstruction is anticipated to cost billions of dollars. Thousands of individuals have been rendered destitute.
On Maui, there are currently six shelters for the displaced, and officials are devising a plan to house them in hotels and vacation rentals.
In recent days, donations to relief and aid organizations on Maui have poured in.
The island is home to numerous affluent individuals, including the founder of Amazon, Jeff Bezos. He and his companion Lauren Sanchez have pledged $100 million (£79 million) to aid the victims of the fire.
Tuesday night, blazes began on the Hawaiian islands of Maui and Big Island. The cause is still unknown, but once the fire was ignited, hurricane winds and arid weather aided in its spread.
Hawaii’s Deadliest: 67 Perish in Devastating Fires
