The number of victims of the fires that have hit the island of Maui, in Hawaii, increased to 53, after inspections carried out in the areas most affected by the flames.. This was reported by the Associated Press news agency.
Although damages are still being calculated, Hawaii Gov. Josh Green told The Associated Press that more than 1,000 buildings in the town of Lahaina, located on Maui, have been destroyed by fires.
The governor further noted that the number of victims is expected to rise further as search and rescue operations progress.
The authorities indicated that these fires could be considered the deadliest natural disaster in the entity since the tsunami registered in 1961, which left 61 people dead.
Adam Weintraub, a spokesman for the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, told The Associated Press that the main focus right now is search and rescue. “We’re still trying to save lives,” Weintraub said.
However, the official noted that it will still not be possible to access certain areas until the fire recedes.
For this Thursday, the fire in Lahaina had been 80% contained.
The fire, which started this Tuesday, was stimulated by the summer and by the strong collateral winds of a hurricane.
The White House approved this Tuesday the disaster declaration in the state of Hawaii, which will allow federal funds to be granted to help those affected by the fires.
Federal aid includes funds that will be allocated to people who need temporary shelter and for home repairs. Low-cost loans will also be made to cover losses from uninsured property.
Keep reading:
– President Joe Biden approves disaster declaration in Hawaii due to wildfires
– Airlines offer low-cost flights for Hawaiians to flee wildfires that have killed at least 36 people
– Hawaiians are forced to jump into the ocean to escape Maui island fires; there are 6 dead