Unyielding wildfires have been relentlessly dictating a course of destruction through Maui, obliterating hundreds of homes and completely decimating an entire historic town. The death toll currently stands at 80; a harrowing figure that is forecasted to increase over the forthcoming days. As reports emerged late on Friday, Maui officials verified the latest count of lives tragically lost.
The Lahaina fire, viewed as the most severe of the three blazes engulfing both Maui and the Big Island, has now officially superseded the 1960 Hilo tsunami's 61 casualties on record. This renders the wildfire Hawaii's deadliest in the state's history.
According to Karen Clark & Company, a disaster and risk modeling firm, the ongoing Maui wildfires are slated to be the second most financially devastating disaster in Hawaii's history, placed behind the 1992 Hurricane Iniki.
An updated report from the Pacific Disaster Center and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) on Saturday assessed that the reconstruction of Maui County will accrue costs to the tune of $5.52 billion. However, they also stipulated that it remains too early to fully comprehend the extent of the damage.
Despite the colossal task at hand, search operation teams have not yet had the chance to venture into the interiors of most of the charred structures. This is particularly true for the hard-hit city of Lahaina, says Maui Mayor Richard Bissen. As it stands, FEMA teams are scheduled to assist further in these efforts, with help from cadaver-sniffing dogs as well.
The raging flames have triggered an exodus from homes, placing around 1,400 residents in emergency shelters as of Friday night. Earlier, some residents were allowed to return for the first time to their homes to gather stock of the brutal aftermath.
Hawaii Governor, Josh Green, relayed to Hawaii News Now that while the recovery process will undeniably be arduous, his main aim at the moment is to reconvene people to their homes to begin the first steps towards rebuilding.
After the authorities decided to allow residents and visitors to return home to collect belongings, chaos ensued. The main road which was reopened into Lahaina was promptly closed once again by Maui Police following reported misbehavior.
In the preceding Friday's press release, FEMA proclaimed that 85% of the Lahaina fire was under control. The Pulehu/Kihei fire was reported to be 80% contained, while the Upcountry Maui fire stood at only 50% under control.
The quick proliferation of the fires has led people to question the efficacy of Hawaii’s emergency warning system, with 400 sirens scattered across the islands failing to alert residents in the onset of the flames. The Attorney General’s Office has since announced a formal review of the decisions made leading up to, during, and after these wildfires.
