The catastrophic wildfires on the Hawaiian island of Maui have resulted in a rising death toll, now reaching at least 80, as survivors return to their devastated communities. The fast-paced wildfires that raged this week have left survivors with surreal scenes of flattened homes, charred cars, and ashen lots where their buildings once stood.
Anthony Garcia, a survivor, stood under Lahaina’s iconic banyan tree, now charred, as he swept twisted branches into neat piles next to another heap filled with dead animals killed by the smoke and flames. Like many others, Garcia lost everything in the fires.
The death toll could continue to climb as search and rescue operations press on, warned Governor Josh Green. A curfew has been implemented from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. as recovery efforts continue.
In an effort to understand the decisions made during the wildfire response, Attorney General Anne Lopez announced plans for a comprehensive review of the policies impacting the response to the deadly wildfires.
Survivors have reported receiving no warning and realizing the danger only when they saw flames or heard explosions. With the wildfires being the state’s deadliest natural disaster in decades, the event brings to light the critical importance of effective emergency alert systems and preparation for such disasters.
The wildfires are projected to be the second-costliest disaster in Hawaii’s history, trailing only Hurricane Iniki in 1992. As the recovery process begins, the focus turns to rebuilding and learning from this tragic event to prevent such devastating loss in the future.