Recovery teams sifting through the wreckage left by Hawaii’s wildfires are facing the grim prospect of uncovering 10 to 20 wildfire victims each day, as the governor cautions the death toll could rise significantly. With 99 lives already lost, this has become the deadliest US wildfire in over a century. Governor Josh Green explained that due to the extent of the destruction, it might take up to 10 days to ascertain the full extent of the tragedy. The number of missing persons remains at approximately 1,300, with 25% of the affected area searched so far. The town of Lahaina, nearly wiped out by the fires, is grappling with the enormity of the loss.
While many residents have managed to escape, the fate of others remains uncertain. Experts and trained dogs have joined forces to locate cadavers in the vast area of destruction, but the task is perilous due to the extreme conditions. Maui Police Chief Jeff Pelletier remarked that the remains are often unrecognizable due to the intensity of the fire. However, hope remains that some families will find closure through DNA identification.
The blaze, fueled by winds from Hurricane Dora and drought conditions, continues to smolder and is about 85% contained. As the community works to recover, a class-action lawsuit has been filed against Hawaii’s main electricity provider, blaming downed power lines for contributing to the wildfires. The lawsuit alleges that despite warnings, the power lines were not shut down, leading to the devastating inferno. With the fire still active and the recovery mission ongoing, the nation waits to see the full extent of this tragic disaster unfold.
Source: BBC
