The number of people killed in the Maui wildfires increased to 67 on Friday as some locals were permitted to move back to West Maui following the tragedy.
However, a fire in West Maui on Friday forced inhabitants of Kaanapali, which has a population of about 1,100, to leave, Maui County police reported on Friday night.
On Maui, there have been three separate wildfires. According to the County of Maui, containment of the Lahaina fire, which engulfed the town by the same name and caused extensive damage, improved slightly to 85%.
The Upcountry Maui fire is 50% contained, and the Pulehu/Kihei fire is 80% contained.
According to emergency officials, Maui’s warning sirens did not sound as devastating wildfires approached the town of Lahaina. According to the Hawaii Emergency Services Administration, three additional alert systems have been put into place.
In what has now become one of Hawaii’s worst natural disasters, some survivors think they were not adequately notified through emergency notifications as the crisis worsened, contributing to the chaos.
Some locals had the opportunity to examine the devastation and what little was left of their houses.
“It’s a war zone,” declared Kimo Kirkman after returning with the dogs’ and cats’ remains.
Others continue to be in the dark about the whereabouts of their loved ones and kin. As additional corpses are discovered in the town’s rubble, the death toll—which is now unknown—could rise.
The issue, which Gov. Josh Green has stated will likely be the worst natural disaster in Hawaii state history (it became a state in 1959), will likely be further discussed on Saturday by officials.