The death toll from the forest fire that devastated the island of Maui, in Hawaii, rose to 80 people, while thousands were left homeless and firefighters continue to work to extinguish the flames, in one of the worst catastrophes that suffered this American archipelago.
“The death toll stands at 80,” Maui County reported in a regular situation update, adding that 1,418 people were evacuated and taken to emergency shelters.
Richard Bissen, the mayor of Lahaina, the former capital of the archipelago and one of the most touristy areas in Hawaii, estimated that 80 percent of the city has been completely destroyed due to the flames, fanned by Hurricane Dora.
“What we saw is catastrophic. It is probably the largest natural disaster in the history of the state of Hawaii,” said Maui Gov. Josh Green, who warned that the death toll is expected to rise “very significantly.”
Faced with this situation, President Joe Biden declared a state of natural disaster for Hawaii on Wednesday, which will make it possible to release “federal funds available to those affected in Maui County,” the White House explained in a statement.
Meanwhile, Pope Francis expressed his “solidarity with those who are suffering this tragedy” and said he felt “deep sadness”; in a telegram sent by Cardinal Pietro Parolin to the Apostolic Nuncio in the United States, Christophe Pierre.
The fire sources began early Tuesday morning and their rapid advance endangered homes, businesses and public services, such as more than 35,000 people on the island of Maui, where the fire devastated 80% of Lahaina, on the west coast. of this island.
2023-08-12 22:02:43
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