2023-09-09 10:46:09
The number of people missing after the gigantic fire which ravaged the island of Maui, in the American state of Hawaii, fell from 385 to 66, the governor of the archipelago, Josh Green, announced on Friday. The fire, the deadliest in the United States in more than a century, almost razed the tourist town of Lahaina, former capital of the Kingdom of Hawaii.
The death toll from the fire still stands at 115, but it could rise further, Josh Green warned, explaining that local police were currently investigating the fate of the missing people. Rescuers have completed the search on the land scorched by the fire, but are continuing them at sea, where people had jumped to escape the flames.
Heavy human and material losses
The high number of missing people has raised fears that the death toll will rise considerably. The heat generated by the fire melted cars, reduced homes to ashes and left behind hazardous waste. Josh Green also took stock of the displaced, indicating that 6,595 people were housed in hotels on the island and 1,100 others in rental accommodation.
“In about two weeks,” he said, “we’ll be moving people into long-term housing.” The Lahaina fire has destroyed at least 2,200 buildings, mostly homes, causing losses that could reach $3 billion, according to insurance experts.
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