14-08-23, 03:16
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re: Hawaii Inferno- Police WARN STOP Walking Over The DEAD as 93 Killed
Hawaii Wildfires Deadliest in The US in Over 100 Years
Maui Fire: 93 Killed as Governor Warns of Significant Death Toll Rise
Police WARN - Give Us Time & STOP Walking Over The DEAD To Hundreds Trying to Return to Their Homes
BBC 14 AUG 2023
Residents say no warnings issued
The Governor of Hawaii has warned the number of people who have died in the wildfires will rise, making this the deadliest fire in the US for more than a hundred years.
Sniffer dogs are deployed to locate bodies in the wreckage but so far have only covered three percent of the search area - and tension is mounting among local residents who are demanding to know why enough wasn't done to sound the alarm so more people could get out in time.
Ninety-three people have been confirmed killed in the Maui fire that razed the historic town of Lahaina, marking the most deadly US fire in a century.
The death toll could rise "significantly", Hawaii Governor Josh Green warned on Saturday, as forensic work continues to identify the victims.
Hundreds remain unaccounted for while hundreds of others fill shelters across Maui after fleeing the flames.
"It's an impossible day," Mr Green said.
The fire will "certainly be the worst natural disaster that Hawaii ever faced", he said.
"We can only wait and support those who are living. Our focus now is to reunite people when we can and get them housing and get them health care, and then turn to rebuilding."
Meanwhile, it remains unclear if early warning systems were used or if they malfunctioned, with many people telling the BBC they were not forewarned about the fire.
The state's attorney general is conducting a "comprehensive review" into how the authorities responded.
Representative Jill Tokuda of Hawaii's 2nd congressional district told the BBC World Service's Newshour programme on Sunday that "serious questions" needed to be addressed.
"There's every justification for everyone to feel angry in this particular situation, and we all want answers," Ms Tokuda said.
She also described her visit to Lahaina over the weekend as "heart-breaking".
"We have so many memories there, so many of our families and friends lost everything, [or are] still looking for loved ones."
While the wildfires are now largely under control, efforts to fully extinguish them are continuing in parts of the island, including around Lahaina, which has been devastated.
Authorities have focused efforts on combing through what is left of the coastal area of the island, using sniffer dogs trained to detect bodies to look for signs of corpses under the rubble.
So far, they have covered only 3% of the search area, said a visibly emotional Maui Police Chief John Pelletier.
"None of us really understand the size of this yet," he said.
Jeremy Greenberg, a senior official at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), has told the BBC that extra support being sent included urban search and rescue, and fire suppression teams.
"The absolute number one priority is survivor safety," he said.
Mr Greenberg added that while close to 1,000 people are still yet to be contacted, some of these may be safe but out of reach for a number of reasons.
In the emergency shelter at Maui's War Memorial Complex on Saturday, hundreds of evacuees continued to gather, receiving food, toiletries and medical aid from a still-growing number of volunteers.
Large whiteboards noted the most pressing needs - batteries, water, and generators - and an all-caps note that no more clothing was needed.
Keapo Bissen, a member of the War Memorial shelter team, said the list of the missing was fluctuating hour to hour as more people reported absent loved ones, and others were found.
"We've had a lot of great reunions happen in this parking lot," she said. "That's really been the bright side in all of this."
Map showing where the fires on Maui have been over the past 7 days and which have been burning in the last 24 hours
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