The fires on the Hawaiian island of Maui are believed to be the deadliest wildfires in the United States for more than 100 years. The causes of the tragedy are still unknown: the death toll from the forest fires that hit the American island of Maui, in the Hawaiian archipelago, has risen to 93, according to data released this Sunday (13/08) by local authorities.
It is expected that more victims will be found as searches continue in the devastated areas. “It’s going to go up,” Hawaii Gov. Josh Green said, referring to the death toll. “We can only hope and support those who are alive. Our focus now is to bring people together however we can, give them shelter and healthcare and then get back to rebuilding.”
These wildfires are the deadliest in the United States in more than 100 years, surpassing the Camp Fire in the state of California, which caused 85 deaths and reduced the city of Heaven to ashes.
Only two victims identified
Two of Maui’s three wildfires are still burning, according to the county’s latest count, which so far has only been able to verify the identities of two of the 93 confirmed victims.
Local police have stressed that the process will be slow as a genetic or dental checkup is required.
Gov. Josh Green said the fires were the “largest natural disaster Hawaii has ever seen,” according to CNN, surpassing the 61 confirmed deaths following a tsunami in 1960.
Before Hawaii became a state in 1959, a tsunami in 1946 killed 158 people.
The governor also estimated the material losses at about $6 billion. “If you look at what you’ve seen now in West Maui, 2,200 structures have been destroyed or damaged, 86% are residential,” Green said.
According to local authorities, more than 14,000 people were evacuated from the island of Maui on Wednesday, while about 14,500 were displaced to other nearby islands on Friday.
Revolt due to lack of alarm
Lahaina County Mayor Richard Bissen said 80 percent of the former capital of the archipelago, and one of Hawaii’s most popular tourist areas, had been completely destroyed by the flames of Hurricane Dora.
The cause of the fires is still unknown, but residents are confused and incensed by the lack of warnings. The sirens stationed around the island – intended to warn of impending natural disasters – did not sound.
Alerts were sent from cell phones, TV and radio stations, but the range was limited due to power outages. “You know when we found out there was a fire? When we were across the street,” Vilma Reed, 63, told AFP news agency in the parking lot of a homeless centre.
md (AFP, Lusa, AP, Reuters)
Source: Terra
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