Hawaii wildfires claim 101 lives: Governor reveals devastating toll

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
16 Aug 2023 09:23

Hawaii Governor Josh Green cautions that the number of fatalities could increase significantly as authorities have only covered approximately 27% of the search area as of Tuesday.

The hall of the historic Waiola Church and the nearby Lahaina Hongwanji Mission engulfed in flames in Lahaina, Hawaii, on Tuesday, August 8. (AP)

The death toll resulting from one of the most devastating fires in US history, which swept through Hawaii, has hiked to 101, according to Hawaii Governor Josh Green's statement to CNN on Tuesday.

The governor cautioned that the number of fatalities could increase significantly as authorities have only covered approximately 27% of the search area as of Tuesday. Meanwhile, anger among US citizens has grown, sparked by claims that the inactivity by the US authorities has led to the significant loss of life.

Governor Green explained that confirming the identities of those who perished will be a challenging process over the next few weeks. He anticipates that a significant portion of the discovered fatalities will likely be situated near the ocean in western Maui. However, as search efforts extend to residential areas, uncertainties arise about the potential scale of further casualties.

Earlier, on Monday, Maui County disclosed in a press release that the death toll from the wildfires had risen to 99 after search operations had encompassed a quarter of the island's land.

The wildfires in Hawaii were sparked by dry and hot weather conditions, aggravated by the powerful winds brought by Hurricane Dora. This fire incident resulted in the destruction of several communities, including the well-visited tourist hub of Lahaina. As a consequence, authorities have had to block roads and halt public transportation services. Evacuations were carried out for hundreds of local residents from the affected region.

It is worth noting that the allocation of aid to Ukraine has stirred up controversy and generated significant frustration among the American public. The perception of how resources are distributed by the US government and the priorities that are being set has led to anger among US citizens.

DEFUND UKRAINE pic.twitter.com/7IeALIJGfM
— Jackson Hinkle 🇺🇸 (@jacksonhinklle) August 15, 2023

Many Americans are frustrated by what they see as insufficient attention and assistance being given to their fellow citizens facing a natural disaster. The supplies provided to Ukraine have also triggered anger among Americans. Some citizens view the allocation of billions of dollars worth of weapons to Ukraine as a misappropriation of taxpayer dollars. They argue that the United States should prioritize domestic needs over international commitments, especially in a time of economic challenges and pressing issues at home.