Authorities in Maui County, Hawaii, have raised the death toll from the severe fires that began last week to 111, Governor Josh Green said. Maui County confirmed the identities of the first two victims: Robert Dyckman, 74, and Buddy Jantoc, 79, both residents of Lahaina, the town hardest hit by the blazes. Three others were identified but their names will not be released until their families have been informed.
"We offer our deepest condolences to the families who are beginning to receive notifications about their loved ones. As a community, we offer our prayers of comfort in this most difficult time," said Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen. The death toll could rise as all affected areas have not yet been traced.
Although the identity of the first two dead was revealed, Jonathan Green, of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), said at a press conference held on Tuesday that the work of identifying the victims will be complicated. "It’s going to be a very, very difficult mission. And patience will be incredibly important because of the number of victims," he explained.
Apart from the victims, the violence with which the flames spread caused the displacement of numerous families to other parts of the island or the state were they were accommodated in hotels. They also received water and food, among other basic necessities. "Nearly 500 people impacted from the fires have already transitioned into hotels, and we’re committed to working with our hotel and vacation rental industries to prioritize the temporary housing needs of our people. We "mahalo" them for their extraordinary efforts," said the Governor of Hawaii, Josh Green.
Nearly 500 people impacted from the fires have already transitioned into hotels, and we’re committed to working with our hotel and vacation rental industries to prioritize the temporary housing needs of our people. We mahalo them for their extraordinary efforts.
— Governor Josh Green (@GovJoshGreenMD) August 15, 2023
Class Action lawsuits against Hawaiian Electric for negligence and failure to cut off power
An investigation is already beginning into what sparked the fires in Hawaii. The company that provides electricity to 95% of residents, Hawaiian Electric, faces three lawsuits – two of them class action – alleging that it continued to supply power knowing the strong winds could cause the collapse of electric poles which would continue fanning the flames, according to reported Axios.
In addition, the plaintiffs argue that the company was careless in building, maintaining and inspecting the power grid.
The fire continues and material losses of about 3,200 million dollars are estimated
The fires are not yet fully extinguished. Authorities confirmed that around 85% of the affected land in Lahaina is already under control. On another front known as Upcountry, emergency services have stabilized about 60% of the area.
According to the Associated Press, the flames, which advanced at a speed of one mile per minute, caused about $3.2 billion in property losses that had insurance. In addition, more than 5,000 properties suffered some amount of damage.
Biden to go to Hawaii Aug. 21, days after receiving criticism
"We don’t want to distract from the resources that need to go in to the victims of this tragedy." This was the argument of the Vice President of the United States, Kamala Harris, to ensure that neither she nor Joe Biden will go to Hawaii in the near future to know in first person the scope of the violent fires. Days after this statement, the White House reported that the president will travel to the island state on Aug. 21.
So far, the most the Biden Administration has done is issue a disaster emergency declaration and grant $700 in aid to each of the families affected by the fires.
While Maui County is still on fire, the president enjoyed a few days off in Rehoboot Beach, Delaware, where he has his vacation residence. It was there that with a brief "no comment," he answered questions about the catastrophe from journalists, for which he received numerous criticisms.
