Hawaii Wildfires Death Toll Rises to 110

The death toll from the devastating wildfires on Hawaii’s Maui Island, which began on August 8, has now reached 110, according to Governor Josh Green. He expressed increasing heartbreak as more loved ones are confirmed lost. Around 38 percent of the burned area has been searched, and approximately 2,200 structures in Maui, of which 86 percent are residential, have been destroyed or damaged.

Maui Police Chief John Pelletier hopes that search efforts will cover 85 to 90 percent of the area by the weekend. These wildfires have already become the deadliest in over a century of modern US history, having destroyed the historic town of Lahaina.

About 2,000 customers are still without electricity in affected areas. President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden are scheduled to visit Maui on August 21 to meet with first responders, survivors, and officials in the aftermath of the wildfires.

The President affirmed his commitment to supporting Hawaii’s recovery. Hawaiian Electric faces a lawsuit claiming that blown-over power lines caused the destructive Lahaina wildfire, although an official cause is yet to be determined.