Wildfire roars through Hawaii’s historic Lahaina
The death toll from the devastating wildfires in Maui, Hawaii has reached 80 as more evacuations are underway in the western area of Kaanapali.
The latest in a string of fires that have ravaged parts of the island triggered the evacuation of the community in Kaanapali on Friday night, the Maui Police Department announced on social media.
In a late evening statement on Friday, Maui County said that the death toll on the island had risen to 80, with officials believing the wildfires could end up being the deadliest disaster in the state’s history. Earlier that day, it said 14,900 visitors left Maui by air Thursday.
Cadaver-sniffing dogs were deployed to search for the dead, Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen Jr said, with Gov Josh Green previously warning the death toll would likely rise as search and rescue operations continue.
Many fire survivors said they did not hear any sirens or receive a warning giving them enough time to prepare, realising they were in danger only when they saw flames or heard explosions. Officials sent alerts to mobile phones, televisions and radio stations, but widespread power and cellular outages may have limited their reach.
