2023-08-12 11:41:09
The death toll for the forest fire that devastated the island of Maui, in Hawaiirose to 80 people, while thousands were left homeless and the firefighters continue working to extinguish the flames, in one of the worst catastrophes suffered by this American archipelago, local authorities reported today.
“The death toll rises to 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 destroyeddue to the flames, fanned by the Hurricane Dora.
“What we saw is catastrophic. Is Probably the largest natural disaster in the history of the state of Hawaii.”declared the governor of the state of Maui, Josh Greenwho warned that the death toll is expected to rise “very significantly.”
Faced with this situation, the President Joe Biden on Wednesday declared a state of natural disaster for Hawaii, which will allow the release of “federal funds available to those affected in Maui County,” the White House explained in a statement.
While, Pope Francis expressed his “solidarity with those who are suffering this tragedy» and said he felt «a deep sadness»; in a telegram sent by Cardinal Pietro Parolin to the Apostolic Nuncio in the United States, Christophe Pierre.
Los fire sources began at dawn on Tuesday And its rapid advance endangered homes, businesses and public services, such as more than 35,000 people on the island of Maui, where the fire destroyed 80% of Lahaina, on the west coast of this island.
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