MAUI, HAWAII: The death toll from the devastating Maui wildfires has reportedly climbed to 55 from the previous number of 53, and 36 before that, as reported by Maui County officials at the time of writing.
The catastrophic disaster has reduced communities across the Hawaiian island to ashes, becoming the second deadliest blaze in the US in a century after the 2018 California Camp Fire that left 85 dead, as per CNN.
Amid ongoing search operations, officials are reportedly expecting the number of fatalities to rise, the publication reported.
The widespread impact of the disaster has also made it difficult for authorities to estimate the exact number of buildings burned or damaged to the ground.
As the blazes continue to rise, Maui County officials shared that the fire burning in Lahaina was 80% contained by the morning of Thursday, August 10.
However, none of the other fires burning on the island could be 100% contained, as per officials, CNN reported.
A look into the Maui wildfire containment effort
According to an official statement issued by Maui County, the wildfire that caused widespread damage in the town of Lahaina was contained by 80% as of Thursday morning after "the Fire Department reported making progress in fighting the Lahaina fire and fires in Pulehu and Upcountry Maui."
Firefighting crews reportedly "secured the perimeter of wildland areas that burned" in Lahaina and continued their efforts, including "patrolling areas where structures burned."
Meanwhile, a fire in Pulehu, in a mountainside area of Kihei, was reportedly contained by 70% by 10.30 am on August 10 after responders used heavy equipment to create firebreaks through the night.
Firefighters also continued to secure the perimeter of the area. "A containment percentage for the fire Upcountry is pending further assessment this morning," Maui County shared.
"Firefighting efforts focused on two main areas of Olinda and Upper Kula. Firefighting crews are continuing efforts to protect structures and extinguish smoldering hot spots," it continued,
"State forestry workers were leading the firefighting effort in the Olinda area. On the Kula side, the fire is most active in gulches that are difficult to access," the statement added.
The press release also mentioned that buses were sent to the Ritz-Carlton, Kapal,ua and Whalers Village in Ka'anapali to transport visitors to Kahului Airport, which housed around 1400 people overnight on Wednesday, August 9.
Airlines also added extra flights for visitors leaving Maui amid the disaster. The Hawaii Convention Center on Oahu also sheltered 18 people who took flights from Maui to Honolulu on August 9.
"Emergency evacuation shelters at War Memorial Complex in Wailuku, Maui High School in Kahului and Hannibal Tavares Community Center in Pukalani housed about 1,050 people overnight," the statement mentioned.
"Another 300 residents and visitors stayed at emergency evacuation shelters opened Wednesday night at Kingʻs Cathedral Maui in Kahului and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Maui Lani," it added.
A total of over 1,000 people were flown out of Maui on August 9, Hawaii Department of Transportation Director Ed Sniffen reportedly confirmed at a news conference, as per CNN.
On Thursday, August 10, Maui County Fire Chief Brad Ventura said four major fires were burning on Maui alongside several smaller fires, The Washington Post reported.
Ventura also said that none of the major fires were fully contained and current weather conditions could still creatthe e potential for "rapid fire behavior."
Maui wildfires death toll climbs to 55
At least 53 people were reported dead from the Maui wildfires as of August 10, 9.15 pm, with the death toll expected to rise over the next few days.
"As firefighter efforts continue, 17 additional fatalities have been confirmed today amid the active Lahaina fire,e Maui County said in a previous statement at 1.10 pm.
"This brings the death toll to 53 people," the statement added. "We will continue to see loss of life," Governor Josh Green said at a conference.
"It will take time to know the full extent, but it will be in the billions of dollars, without a doubt," he added.
The latest statement declared, "2 additional fatalities have been confirmed today amid the active Lahaina fire. This brings the death toll to 55 people."
Colin McCarthy, a popular weather analyzer, tweeted aerial pictures of Maui, captioning it, "The Maui fire that tore through Lahaina is one of the worst wildfire disasters in US history."
He further added, "The town of 12,000 people is virtually destroyed, with at least 53 dead and many more missing. More than 1,700 structures have been destroyed, including entire neighborhoods. Maui is in great need of outside assistance."
The Maui wildfires has caused mass destruction
The disastrous wildfires across Maui have caused mass destruction across the Hawaiian island. According to CNN, officials estimated that the disaster impacted hundreds of structures and reduced homes to ashes.
Thousands of people were left homeless and without power amid the raging blaze. "If you have additional space in your home, if you have the capacity to take someone in from west Maui, please do," Green requested.
The "older neighborhood" of Lahaina, an economic hub in western Maui that attracted millions of tourists every year, is destroyed, Maui County Mayor Richard T Bissen Jr said on Thursday, August 10.
"It’s all gone," he stated. Hundreds of people were also left without network on their cell phones, making it even more difficult for officials to trace the number of people still missing.
Governor Green also called the wildfires "likely the largest natural disaster in Hawaii’s state history." "All of us will have a loved one here on Maui that we know of, that lost a house, that lost a friend," he mentioned.
