Hawaii fires deadliest natural disaster in state history
12-08-2023, 09:19

Font size: [ A+ ] / [ A- ]

The Hawaii wildfires have reached a grim milestone as the death toll rose to 67, making it the deadliest natural disaster in the state's history.

Hundreds more have been reported missing and the toll may still rise.

It comes as some Lahaina residents are being allowed to briefly return home on Friday to take stock of the damage to their fire-ravaged town.

They returned amid warnings they would be greeted by "destruction like they've not ever seen in their lives".

State officials reopened Lahaina to people with proof of residency on Friday for the first time since flames swept rapidly through early this week, razing much of the historic town.

People who had been evacuated with only the clothes on their backs told the BBC they were concerned it may be hard to prove their residency.

A curfew will operate daily from 22:00 to 06:00 local time, and some of the hardest hit parts of the town remain restricted to search and rescue personnel.

West Maui, where Lahaina is located, is still without power and water. Search crews are still in the area looking for wildfire victims.

That includes in the water. The Coast Guard said it had pulled 17 people alive from the water near the town's harbour so far. All were reported to be in a stable condition.

But Gabe Lucy, who owns a tour operator on Maui, told the BBC that he was hearing of horrific scenes.

"People were jumping in the water and I think for a lot of them the fire wrapped around so quick that the only way to escape was go down to the water's edge," said Mr Lucy, whose captains were called in to help rescue people.

He added that they were "picking up four-year-olds and putting them surfboards and pulling them out" and that he had heard reports of "bodies on the rocks".

On the Honoapiilani Highway - one of the only available routes into Lahaina - cars sat bumper-to-bumper, with families looking tired and worried alongside trucks carrying water and fuel.

One family told the BBC they had stayed in Lahaina through the worst of the fire, only leaving on Thursday to buy much-needed supplies.

Their house was still standing, but they have been "sitting in the dark".

The family told the BBC they believed the number of confirmed dead, though already high, would rise further. "On our street alone it's 50 people," one family member said.

Governor Josh Green warned Hawaiians on Friday what they found in Lahaina would be difficult.

"Lahaina is a devastated zone. They will see destruction like they've not ever seen in their lives," said the governor, who visited the town on Thursday. "Be very safe, be very careful."

He said it will take many years to repair the damage caused by wildfires on the island of Maui. More than 1,000 buildings had been destroyed in Lahaina, a coastal town with a rich history that attracts some two million tourists a year.

On Friday, Maui County officials also confirmed 12 additional deaths in Lahaina.

That makes it Hawaii's deadliest natural disaster, eclipsing the toll of a tsunami in 1960 that killed 61 people.

Hawaii's Attorney General has announced a "comprehensive review" into how the authorities responded to the wildfires.

That is as questions mount over whether officials warned residents fast enough.

Despite some residents being allowed to return to Lahaina on Friday, many of the evacuees at the War Memorial Stadium shelter, about 20 miles (32km) from the historic town, say they are not in a rush to go back.

Most of them witnessed their homes beginning to catch fire as they barely escaped and are certain that nothing remains to return to.

Many told the BBC they were just grateful to be alive.

Rebuilding is expected to require billions of dollars. Thousands of people have been left homeless.

There are six shelters in operation on Maui for those displaced, and officials said they were drafting a plan to house them in hotels and tourist rental properties.

In recent days, donations have been rolling in to relief and aid organisations on Maui.

The island is home to many wealthy people, including Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. He and his partner Lauren Sanchez have pledged $100m (£79m) to help the fire victims.

Wildfires on Hawaii's Maui island and Big Island began on Tuesday night. The cause is still not known but once lit, hurricane winds and dry weather helped fuel the flames.

 

BBC

Comments: 2976
#2816   SEO backlinks service
      
I really appreciate this wonderful post that you have provided for us. I assure this would be beneficial for most of the people. Official 91 Raja Games Website
31 January 2026 16:17
#2815   Kandace
      
References:


Seminole casino florida

References:
rentry.co
31 January 2026 13:56
#2814   Scott
      
References:


Treasury casino

References:
https://www.udrpsearch.com/
31 January 2026 09:01
#2813   Wilhemina
      
casinobonus


https://godwin-pappas.thoughtlanes.net/50-freispiele-ohne-einzahlung-sofort-erha
ltlich-topliste godwin-pappas.thoughtlanes.net


https://chessdatabase.science/wiki/Neue_Online_Casinos_Neueste_Spielbanken_mit_B
onus_2026 https://chessdatabase.science/wiki/Neue_Online_Casinos_Neueste_Spielbanken_mit_B
onus_2026


https://clay-neergaard-2.blogbright.net/bester-500-online-casinos-bonus-fur-casi
nospiele clay-neergaard-2.blogbright.net


https://ramsey-neergaard-4.technetbloggers.de/bonus-ohne-einzahlung-und-freispie
le-bei-24-casino https://ramsey-neergaard-4.technetbloggers.de/bonus-ohne-einzahlung-und-freispie
le-bei-24-casino


https://mozillabd.science/wiki/1red_Casino_Testbericht_Ein_Blick_auf_die_Spielvi
elfalt_und_Angebote_Etern_Group_Company_Limited https://mozillabd.science/


https://bandori.party/user/391554/ronaldfrance9/ bandori.party


https://yutoriarukyouikujouken.com:443/index.php?churchsecure1 yutoriarukyouikujouken.com


https://schoolido.lu/user/turtlecouch5/ schoolido.lu


https://hedgedoc.eclair.ec-lyon.fr/s/aY5QJknmO https://hedgedoc.eclair.ec-lyon.fr/


https://pads.zapf.in/s/FEcbLCjPqN pads.zapf.in


https://cameradb.review/wiki/Admiralbet_Casino_Login_und_Registrierung_fr_deutsc
he_Spieler https://cameradb.review/


https://pediascape.science/wiki/AdmiralBet_Online_Casino_Erfahrungen_und_Test pediascape.science


https://gaiaathome.eu/gaiaathome/show_user.php?userid=1831821 https://gaiaathome.eu/


https://swaay.com/u/erachlvxuh42/about/ swaay.com


https://raftpen4.bravejournal.net/i-online-casino-admiral-bewertungen-und-beschw
erden-boni-und-ehrliche raftpen4.bravejournal.net


https://nerdgaming.science/wiki/No_Deposit_Bonus_Promo_Codes_Freispiele_fr_deuts
che_Spieler https://nerdgaming.science/wiki/No_Deposit_Bonus_Promo_Codes_Freispiele_fr_deuts
che_Spieler


https://securityholes.science/wiki/GratisSpins_ohne_Einzahlung_bei_24Casino securityholes.science


https://to-portal.com/lookchance7 to-portal.com

References:
https://marvelvsdc.faith
31 January 2026 07:49
#2812   Clark
      
joliet casino


https://dokuwiki.stream/wiki/Bonus_ohne_Einzahlung_und_Freispiele_bei_24_Casino https://dokuwiki.stream/wiki/Bonus_ohne_Einzahlung_und_Freispiele_bei_24_Casino


https://spongeregret2.werite.net/slot-magie-geht-nicht-tipps-beim-down-storungen
-and-problemen spongeregret2.werite.net


https://scientific-programs.science/wiki/Premium_Online_Casino_India scientific-programs.science


https://gaiaathome.eu/gaiaathome/show_user.php?userid=1831620 gaiaathome.eu


https://www.bandsworksconcerts.info:443/index.php?vaultrhythm1 www.bandsworksconcerts.info


https://md.chaosdorf.de/s/VTh7TJFVUw https://md.chaosdorf.de


https://clinfowiki.win/wiki/Post:888_Casino_Bonuscode2026_888_Bonus_ohne_Einzahl
ung clinfowiki.win


https://able2know.org/user/lookshadow1/ https://able2know.org/user/lookshadow1/


https://dokuwiki.stream/wiki/888_Bonus_2026_Aktueller_Promo_Code_getestet dokuwiki.stream


https://md.chaosdorf.de/s/-sx49vLxR4 md.chaosdorf.de


https://graingoat8.werite.net/sportwetten-mit-den-besten-wettquoten https://graingoat8.werite.net/


https://medibang.com/author/27669391/ medibang.com


https://notes.bmcs.one/s/_l2srNXmy notes.bmcs.one


https://scientific-programs.science/wiki/Bewertungen_zu_888casino_Lesen_Sie_Kund
enbewertungen_zu_www_888casinocom_2_von_6 https://scientific-programs.science/wiki/Bewertungen_zu_888casino_Lesen_Sie_Kund
enbewertungen_zu_www_888casinocom_2_von_6


https://digitaltibetan.win/wiki/Post:Einzahlung_Auszahlung digitaltibetan.win


https://matkafasi.com/user/ronaldfrance2 matkafasi.com


https://www.hulkshare.com/farmhouse7/ https://www.hulkshare.com/farmhouse7/


https://www.udrpsearch.com/user/peonysecure5 www.udrpsearch.com

References:
demant-clayton.technetbloggers.de
31 January 2026 05:59
#2811   Doreen
      
Also visit my webpage; High
Stake Poker
31 January 2026 05:03
#2810   Darell
      
References:


Roulette strategy to win

References:
algowiki.win
31 January 2026 03:41
#2809   Andrea
      
my web blog ... High stakes Poker
31 January 2026 03:01
#2808   Theron
      
References:


Oregon casinos

References:
botdb.win
31 January 2026 02:12
#2807   Ouida
      
31 January 2026 00:40
#2806   Chasity
      
my web blog; GameBeat slots & RTP guide

Here is my web-site :: play poker
Online
30 January 2026 21:58
#2805   Julia
      
30 January 2026 17:43
#2804   Leonel
      
Feel free to visit my page - HighStakesDB
30 January 2026 16:19
#2803   Mitchell
      
References:


Play slot machine

References:
https://md.swk-web.com/s/CvOL8cf7s
30 January 2026 11:00
#2802   Russell
      
30 January 2026 09:35
#2801   William
      
29 January 2026 20:04
#2800   Dacia
      
29 January 2026 15:56
#2799   Helena
      
29 January 2026 15:39
#2798   Annette
      
29 January 2026 14:26
#2797   Grant
      
29 January 2026 11:39
Add Comments

Name:*
E-Mail:
  Geo Keyboard  
 

Dear reader, guardian.ge welcomes your comments. Please express your views on topic and be respectful of others.

bold italic underline strike | align left centered align right | Ensert smilies insert linkInsert protected URL Choice the color | hidden text insert quote Convert selected text from transliteration to Cyrillic alphabet Insert spoiler

Code: *


Back1 ... 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 ... 149Next