Eighty people have been confirmed dead by wildfires on the Hawaiian island of Maui, with fears that the numbers will rise further as hundreds remain uncontactable. Firefighters have been trying to contain fires in several areas, including the historic town of Lahaina, which has been utterly devastated. Hawaii's attorney general has announced a "comprehensive review" into how the authorities responded to the wildfires. The closure of Lahaina to people with proof of residency on Friday for the first time since flames swept rapidly through early this week has left many families in a mile-long line.
Governor Josh Green warned residents that they would be greeted by "destruction like they've never seen in their lives." Many of Lahaina's evacuees, like the Tacderan family, have not been able to sleep and fear that the death toll will climb further. Residents of Kaanapali, north of Lahaina, were ordered to evacuate as a fire flared up in the area where a fueling station had been set up. The Coast Guard said it had pulled 17 people alive from the water near the town's harbor so far, all reported to be in stable condition.
Authorities have warned that it will take many years to repair the damage caused by wildfires on the island of Maui. More than 1,000 buildings have been destroyed in Lahaina alone. The extensive damage is an added stress for Maui's locals, many of whom rely on the service jobs supplied by the tourism industry.
Governor Josh Green warned Hawaiians on Friday what they found in Lahaina would be difficult. He said that "Lahaina is a devastated zone. They will see destruction like they've never seen in their lives." There are six shelters in operation on Maui for those displaced, and officials are drafting a plan to house them in hotels and tourist rental properties. In recent days, donations have been rolling in. The island is home to many wealthy people, including Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, who and his partner Lauren Sanchez have pledged $100m (£79m) to help the fire victims.
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