The President of the United States, Joe Biden, decreed, Thursday, August 10, the state of natural disaster for Hawaii, where violent fires have killed at least thirty-six people, which will make it possible to release significant federal aid. for the archipelago.
“President’s action makes federal funds available to those affected in Maui County”, the most affected island, the White House said in a statement. This aid will finance emergency relief and reconstruction efforts on the island, where the tourist town of Lahaina, the former capital of the Kingdom of Hawaii, was almost razed to the ground.
A previous report released Wednesday reported six dead. Dozens of people were also injured, according to the authorities. But the balance sheet will increase in a way “very significant”, warned Thursday, the governor of Hamai. The current balance sheet “is already about 20% higher” to the 36 deaths announced, said Josh Green on the CNN channel. According to him, he could “greatly exceed” the 60 victims.
The fires were fueled by strong winds exacerbated by Hurricane Dora. Much of the tourist town of Lahaina, population 12,000, “was destroyed and hundreds of local families were displaced”, Mr. Green said in a statement. The western part of the island, where Lahaina is located, was almost surrounded by fires, with only one highway still passable.
More than 800 acres have burned, according to the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency. “Strong, gusty winds and drought conditions put most of Hawaii under a red alert that ended Wednesday night, and new fires are raging on the Big Island and on Maui”, she also reported.
11,000 tourists evacuated
Earlier, Mr. Biden had announced the mobilization of all federal means available on the archipelago. He also said the Department of Transportation was working with airlines to evacuate tourists from Maui.
More than 11,000 tourists have been evacuated from the island, according to Ed Sniffen of the Hawaii Department of Transportation. Sixteen routes were closed, but Maui airport remained open and airlines lowered fares to allow for evacuations, he added.
Some people were forced to jump into the Pacific Ocean to escape the smoke and fires, forcing the US Coast Guard to organize rescue operations, according to a statement released by Maui County.