At least 80 dead as wildfires continue to scorch Maui; officials estimate $5.52 billion to rebuild
The wildfires carving a ruinous path across Maui, ripping through hundreds of homes and reducing an entire historic town to rubble, have killed a total of 80 people so far — an ever-growing figure that’s still expected to climb in the coming days.
Maui officials confirmed the latest fatality count in an update late Friday night. This officially makes the Lahaina fire — the most serious of the three blazes torching Maui and the Big Island — Hawaii’s deadliest natural disaster in state history, surpassing the 61 confirmed deaths from a tsunami in Hilo in 1960.
It’s also projected to be the second-costliest disaster in Hawaii, only behind 1992′s Hurricane Iniki, according to disaster and risk modeling firm Karen Clark & Company. An updated assessment from the Pacific Disaster Center and FEMA on Saturday estimated it will cost $5.52 billion to rebuild Maui County, though it’s still too early to determine the full scope of the damage.
Crews have still yet to search the inside most of the burned buildings, specifically structures in the hard-hit city of Lahaina, Maui Mayor Richard Bissen said, noting FEMA teams will help with those efforts moving forward. Cadaver-sniffing dogs were also assisting rescue crews on Saturday
The devastating flames have also forced Hawaiians to flee from their homes, with some 1,400 people still in emergency shelters Friday night. Earlier in the day, some residents were allowed to return home for the first time and take stock of the devastation.
“The recovery’s going to be extraordinarily complicated, but we do want people to get back to their homes and just do what they can to assess safely, because it’s pretty dangerous,” Hawaii Gov. Josh Green told Hawaii News Now.
Those who could provide “proof of residency and visitors with proof of hotel reservations will have access,” officials said. A curfew from 10 p.m. until 6 a.m. has also been implemented.
However, just hours after authorities reopened the main road into Lahaina, Maui Police abruptly shut down access once again, citing a disregard for rules and blocked off areas. One officer told the Honolulu Star Advertiser the re-closure sparked a near-riot involving about 100 people.
“Many people are parking on the Lahaina Bypass and walking into the areas Makai of the bypass, which is locked down due to hazardous conditions and biohazards,” the officer added. “This area is an active police scene, and we need to preserve the dignity of lives lost and respect their surviving family.”
In a press release Friday, the Federal Emergency Management Agency said that 85% of the Lahaina fire was contained, the Pulehu/Kihei fire is 80% contained while the Upcountry Maui fire is only 50% contained. All three blazes, sparked earlier this week, have been fueled by a dry summer and strong winds from a passing hurricane.
Their quick spread caught both residents and officials off-guard, leaving little time to prepare for the destruction. Many have since questioned why Hawaii’s emergency warning system — composed of 400 sirens positioned across the islands — failed to alert them when the flames spread. The Attorney General’s Office has since announced that it would be conducting a formal review of the decision-making and policies leading up to, during and after the wildfires on Maui and Hawaii islands.
With News Wire Services
