US Pacific Island
Governor of Hawaii expects around 200 deaths after fires
Watch the video: Desperate and Impatient: Why Hawaiians Can’t Return Home
Impatience and desperation were high on Monday, here on the island of Maui in the US state of Hawaii. For hours, Lahaina residents waited for permission to return to their community after the devastating conflagration. “We have to go back to Lahaina. That’s where we were born and raised. You know what I mean? And I just have to go back to work to support my family. And then we lose our house, our car…” It’s nice almost a week since the fire devastated most of the historic resort. But many people were not allowed to return. The authorities suspect that embers and toxic fumes could continue to pose a danger to life and limb. Deanna Criswell, of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, speaking via the White House button on Monday, painted the following picture of the situation: “We’re going to have to use whatever tools we have in our toolbox. We’re not going to rely on all traditional programs that we do elsewhere in the Americas, so we’re working very closely with the governor to better understand all of the options available, such as the ability to provide tiny houses and other transitional housing.” The White House said President Joe Biden has spoken with Hawaii Governor Josh Green and Senator Mazie Hirono about housing options. The prospects for the island are bleak: On Monday, search teams found more bodies in the rubble. According to the authorities, it is also difficult to identify the victims because the fire was so intense that even metal structures melted in the heat. Most recently, the authorities spoke of at least 99 dead.
The death toll from the devastating fires in Hawaii continues to rise. Governor Josh Green fears that ten to 20 dead bodies could still be found every day – and possibly for days to come.
The death toll from the fires in Hawaii has risen to almost 100 and, according to authorities, could double in the next week or two. Hawaii Governor Josh Green announced the discovery of three more bodies, bringing the total death toll to 99.
Ten to 20 bodies are found daily
The search for human remains continues, rescue workers worked their way through hundreds of burned-out houses and vehicles with sniffer dogs, Green said. “You’re probably going to find 10 to 20 people a day,” he said in an interview with CBS. So it will probably take 10 days to complete, he added.
Since cell phone service has been restored, residents have been able to reconnect with family and friends. The number of missing has dropped from more than 2,000 to about 1,300, Green said.
The fires started last Tuesday in Hawaii and the neighboring island of Maui and spread quickly. The tourist-loving historic town of Lahaina on Maui’s west coast is all but rubble.
Wildfire risk in Hawaii classified as ‘low’
Many Lahaina residents have accused authorities of not giving them timely notice of the fires. Among other things, there were no warning sirens, and other protective measures would not have taken effect. In last year’s emergency plan, the state of Hawaii described the risk of forest fires for the population as “low”.