1 / 3Photo: Rick Bowmer/AP/TT
Residents of the hard-hit island of Maui awoke to the town of Lahaina almost completely destroyed, smoke lingering from several wildfires and a death toll expected to rise.
Still, some residents began to return to see what could be saved.
The death toll was officially 55 due to the fires on Hawaii Island, before new search efforts were launched at dawn. Around 80 percent of the fires were under control late on Friday evening Swedish time.
Governor Josh Green warned that the death toll could rise as burned and destroyed areas are searched.
Prepare for shock
But, he also allowed residents to return home.
– Families can return to Lahaina today. The mayor will announce that residents can go to their homes and see for themselves what has been destroyed, Gov. Gosh told media company KHNL in Honolulu late Friday evening Swedish time.
But he warned that one should expect the worst. And that the death toll will rise. So far, the dead have been found outdoors. Now the work begins to search through burned down buildings.
– This will bring Hawaii together, but be ready for emotional storms. I know many will be shocked. I have experience from having worked with emergency cases and seen tragedies during 25 years in hospitals, Gosh continued according to the media company NBC.
Longterm planning
At the same time, plans were made for more long-term aid efforts, since federal aid to the Hawaiian Islands was approved by President Joe Biden.
Lahaina Mayor Richard Bissen received, among other things, representatives of the disaster agency FEMA and leading members of Congress to study the destruction on site. Their walk, local media reported, began on the usually very busy main street, Front Street. At the time of the visit, the street was completely silent and covered in soot.
Evacuations of those in distress continued with extra deployed flights. Hawaiian Airlines promised extra flights over the weekend.
– Many are relieved to be able to get to a place where they can get a bite to eat, where there is electricity and clean water, said the airline’s CEO Peter Ingram.
But those who remained lived in the memories of intense, life-threatening days – along with hopes for a future.
– It was like watching everything that was your life burn up, literally burn up, before your eyes. It was a matter of minutes: smoke billowing, fire spreading, explosions all around us,” said Lahaina resident May Wedelin.
– But Laihana has a special community. I pray that we can rebuild, and that the focus is on us residents and not tourism, she continues in an interview with local media.