“It is going to take many years to rebuild Lahaina. A historic town is virtually wiped out: Much of Lahaina, where about 12,000 people live in western Maui, has been destroyed and hundreds of families there have been displaced, the governor said.Biden approves disaster declaration: The White House announced Thursday that President Joe Biden had approved a disaster declaration, freeing up federal aid to assist in the recovery in Maui County.Dozens are dead: The death toll was 53 Thursday, Maui County officials said.Billions of dollars in losses: While it’s too early to know the full magnitude of destruction, the governor said “it will be in the billions of dollars, without a doubt.”.Live updates: Deadly wildfires burn across Maui At least 17 people were rescued from the water by the Coast Guard and 40 others from the shore, the force said in a news release, adding search and rescue operations are ongoing. Those who survived recall harrowing escapes by car or boat, racing through thick smoke, while some fled into the ocean to avoid being burned as the fires spread Tuesday. None of the other fires burning on the island was 100% contained, officials said Thursday. Maui County officials estimated the fire that burned Lahaina was 80% contained by Thursday morning, local time. “My colleagues, friends, family – we’re all homeless,” Kaleiopu said.Įarlier Thursday, the governor told CNN he estimated “upwards of 1,700 buildings” were destroyed.Īnd the blazes on the island continue to burn. “Please consider bringing those people into your lives.”Īmong them is Dustin Kaleiopu, whose home in Lahaina was destroyed. “If you have additional space in your home, if you have the capacity to take someone in from west Maui, please do,” the governor said. With thousands of people now with nowhere to go, Green appealed to hotels and residents across the state to open their rooms and homes to those who have been displaced. It would trail only California’s Camp Fire, which killed 85 people in 2018. ![]() The 53 deaths would make the wildfire that torched Lahaina’s historic districts the second deadliest blaze in the United States in a century. “All of us will have a loved one here on Maui that we know of, that lost a house, that lost a friend.” Josh Green said in the news conference after touring Lahaina on Thursday. “What we saw was likely the largest natural disaster in Hawaii’s state history,” Gov. These factors are making it hard to fight the deadly Maui wildfiresĪnd with power and cell service out in western Maui, officials don’t know how many people who may have tried to escape are still missing. Jeff Melichar/TMX/via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. Smoke and flames rise in Lahaina, Maui County, Hawaii, U.S., Augin this still image from video obtained from social media.
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