Key Takeaways
- The death toll from the Hawaii wildfires has climbed to 110.
- President Biden declared a major disaster, unlocking federal aid for the affected islands.
- The historic town of Lahaina suffered extensive damage, prompting mass evacuations.
Hawaii: The number of people killed in one of the deadliest fires in US history that swept Hawaii has reached 110.
Governor Josh Green announced the grim figure on Wednesday, highlighting the scale of the disaster.
“Hundred and ten individuals have been confirmed deceased,” Green told a news conference.
The governor said that 38% of the search area has been covered so far, adding that the authorities are adding “significant force … to make sure that we can go to every corner of the disaster site.”
The governor said in a post on X (formerly known as Twitter) that the authorities have “helped 910 people move to 369 hotel rooms” as of Wednesday, adding that “we have 700 offers for long term rentals and 13 families have already been placed into rented units.”
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said earlier on Wednesday that President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden will travel to Maui on August 21 to meet with survivors and officials in the wake of the deadliest wildfires in the region.
The wildfires in Hawaii broke out due to dry and hot weather and are exacerbated by strong winds brought by Hurricane Dora. The fire destroyed several settlements, including the popular tourist town of Lahaina. The authorities were forced to block roads and suspend public transport. Hundreds of locals were evacuated from the area.
Last week, Biden declared a major disaster in Hawaii, making additional federal resources available to help combat the ongoing wildfires on the islands.
