Hawaii wildfire: Death toll climbs to 80; entire island Maui burnt
The Hawaiian island of Maui is grappling with devastating wildfires that have claimed the lives of 80 individuals and ravaged hundreds of homes. Emergency responders are racing to provide temporary housing for survivors, deploying cadaver-sniffing dogs to assist search operations. The death toll is expected to rise, marking this as the deadliest wildfire incident since California’s 2018 Camp Fire. The rapid progression of the fire, consuming an entire town in four hours, parallels the catastrophe’s magnitude.
A separate fire on Maui prompted the evacuation of a northeastern community, compounding the crisis. Communication challenges persist due to offline cell towers, and prolonged power outages are anticipated on the island’s western side. Governor Josh Green, accompanied by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, assessed the devastation and prioritized addressing the loss of life. With hundreds of people still unaccounted for, human-focused recovery efforts are paramount.
The destruction’s extent is evident, as over 80% of the 2,719 structures exposed to the fire were damaged or destroyed. Maui County’s damage assessment underscores the fire’s immense impact. Amidst the tragedy, the community’s resilience is evident as they strive to recover from this catastrophic event.
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