The cozy town of Lahaina, where over 12,000 people live, was destroyed by a terrible fire that spread across the US island.
People in the Hawaiian resort town are very upset because a terrible fire has destroyed the area. The number of people who have died from the fire has reached 93, making it the worst wildfire in the US in over 100 years.
Authorities mentioned that the number of deaths could increase as search teams keep looking through the remains of Lahaina town on Maui island. This town, which had more than 12,000 residents, has been completely destroyed by the fire. The hotels and restaurants that were once there are now just ashes.
During a press conference on Saturday, Governor Josh Green mentioned that the number of confirmed deaths resulting from the Maui wildfires had gone up to 89. This makes it the most deadly wildfire in the US in over 100 years. Later, Maui County increased the confirmed death count to 93.
Green informed reporters that the death toll is expected to rise further, and he wanted people to be prepared for that possibility.
While visiting the destruction on historic Front Street, Green stated that this would likely be the most severe natural disaster that Hawaii has ever experienced.
This latest number surpasses the 85 individuals who lost their lives in a fire that happened in Paradise, California in 2018. It’s also the highest death count from a wildfire since 1918 when the Cloquet fire in Minnesota and Wisconsin resulted in the deaths of 453 people.
Maui’s police chief, John Pelletier, mentioned that they have only searched a small part of the disaster area. They could only recognize two victims out of the total due to severe burns. He also shared that specialized dogs trained to find bodies have explored just 3% of the search area.
Pelletier explained, “The remains we’re discovering are a result of a fire so intense that it melted metal. To identify each of these remains, we need to quickly use DNA testing.”
He added, “When we handle the remains, they easily break apart.”