After the devastating fires in Hawaii, the search for missing people continues. The authorities have reported 89 fatalities so far. The cause of the fires and the authorities’ late response are still being investigated.
People are only slowly coming back to Lahaina, to the coastal town that has been almost completely destroyed. One woman calls the landscape of rubble “devastating”. A long line has formed on the road to Lahaina. Many people want to see if there is anything left of their home. In addition, some fear that there could be looting.
But the police keep blocking the access road. People have been waiting for hours. The nerves are raw.
The state’s governor, Josh Green, said the aim was to allow people to put an end to the terrible events – and to see the destruction for themselves. Nevertheless, it is dangerous, so people can only be let in slowly. Green called for patience.
Only three percent of the area searched
Meanwhile, victims are still being sought. The search is progressing very slowly, said the responsible police chief, John Pelletier, at a press conference: “We have found 89 so far. Today we identified two.”
Only three percent of the area had been searched with sniffer dogs – more animals had been flown in. But because of the severe fires that have melted even metal, one must proceed calmly and conscientiously to find remains.
People who have reported family members missing have been asked to provide their DNA to speed up identification.
More than 1,400 people in shelters
More than 2,200 buildings were damaged or destroyed by the flames. This was confirmed by the US civil protection agency Fema. The authority helps to look after the homeless people. More than 1,400 people were taken to emergency shelters. Apartments and hotels on Maui will be cleared, but Maui’s residents will also be distributed to other islands.
It is still unclear what caused the various fires. It is also being investigated why many people only found out about the fires too late. Prosecutors launched an investigation into how authorities responded to the fire. Many eyewitnesses reported that the emergency sirens did not go off. They had heard about the fires from neighbors or had been surprised.
Governor Green emphasized that many donations had been received to help those affected. He’s never seen anything like it. It shows how much Hawaii means to people. The construction will take place – but it will take time.