Maui Wildfires: 93 Dead, Deadliest US Fire in a Century
The Maui Wildfires: The Deadliest in U.S. History
The Maui wildfires have tragically claimed the lives of 93 people, making them the most deadly wildfires in U.S. history over the last century.
The new death toll update comes from the Maui County website, which noted that two of the deaths have been identified. This surpasses the previous record set by the 2018 Camp Fire in Paradise, California, which killed 85 people.
While the number of confirmed deaths has yet to surpass the Cloquet fire of 1918 in Minnesota and Wisconsin, which claimed at least 453 lives, the devastation in Maui is unprecedented.
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While surveying the damage in the town, Governor Josh Green expressed his concern that the official death toll is expected to rise. He described it as the worst natural disaster Hawaii has ever faced and emphasized the need to support and provide assistance to those affected.
Cadaver dogs continue their search for human remains, but they have only covered 3 percent of the search area so far, according to Maui County Police Chief John Pelletier.
The main fire ravaged Lahaina, a once-thriving historic town in western Maui that now resembles a barren wasteland. Firefighters are still battling flare-ups in Lahaina and Upcountry Maui.
4,500 People in Need of Shelter
Approximately 4,500 people are in need of shelter, according to county officials. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Pacific Disaster Center are working to secure hotel rooms and rental properties for those who lost their homes. Emergency shelters have already taken in over 1,400 people.
Unfortunately, Hawaii’s emergency alert system failed to activate the necessary sirens and reach mobile phones, televisions, and radio stations due to power and cellular outages. Officials have pledged to review the state’s emergency notification systems in light of these failures.
The wildfires, which started on August 8, caught residents off guard, forcing many to flee with only the clothes on their backs. Some even sought refuge in the Pacific Ocean to survive.
The fires were fueled by dry conditions, strong winds from Hurricane Dora, and a low-pressure system near Japan. The exact causes of the fires have yet to be determined.
As the recovery efforts continue, Lahaina and Kula residents have been advised not to drink tap water and to use bottled water instead. The damage across West Maui is extensive, with at least 2,200 buildings, including 86 percent of homes, being damaged or destroyed.
The estimated cost to rebuild Lahaina alone is $5.5 billion, according to FEMA.
As the community comes to terms with this devastating tragedy, the focus remains on providing support, rebuilding, and learning from the emergency response to prevent such catastrophic events in the future.
The Associated Press and Reuters
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