Hawaii fires: Hawaii underestimates deadly threat from wildfires, records show | What causes fires in Hawaii? | Maui | Lahaina | USA | the world

Los fire It destroyed a large part of the historic city Lahaina They are already among the deadliest on record in the US in more than a century, above the 2018 California camp fire tragedy that killed 85 people. But both fires survived 1918 was the worst event in the country About 453 people died in Minnesota and Wisconsin, according to the nonprofit research group National Fire Protection Association.

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“By the time they are done looking, they will find 10 to 20 people a day. And it may take 10 days. It’s impossible to predict what will happen, really”. The governor said in an interview with CBS Mornings.

Green It also reported that the number of missing persons had dropped from 2,000 to around 1,300. Many of them remained in the dark as telephone services were down due to the fire.

Reduced forest fire risk

But the actual size sadness Emerging on Wednesday last week, new information is emerging about how underprepared the island is Hawaii To deal with related emergencies forest fire.

According to the chain CNNOfficials in 2021 Hawaii It released a report ranking the natural calamities threatening the people of the state. They are tsunamis, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. The danger to human life caused by forest fires is characterized by the term “Low” State Emergency Management Agency.

Scientists say climate change

Increases natural disasters caused by human activities, making them more common and dangerous.

Also, according to CNN, A Maui County Report On prevention forest fire In 2021, compared to previous years, although the number of hectares consumed by fires has increased, funding to prevent and mitigate them is “not sufficient,” it said.

It was also stated in the report The Maui Fire Department’s strategic plan “doesn’t say anything about what can and should be done to prevent fires.”In what he described as a “significant omission”.

The report recommended a thorough assessment of fire risks, but it’s unclear whether officials have heeded the recommendation, CNN reports.

CNN reports that other documents from the past five years show that officials were aware of the increasing fire risk. May be exacerbated by hurricane force windsAs happened with fire Lahaina. “Fires that result from another major threat or disaster, such as a hurricane, are particularly difficult,” one report said. He said first aid crews and firefighters are over-staffed in these cases.

CNN insists during the fire MauiCyclone Dora was hundreds of kilometers south of the island, but its winds fanned the flames.

The state emergency management agency’s public resource webpage also downplays an impact wild fireCNN maintains.

The site provides clear recommendations on what to do in the event of a hurricane, tsunami, flash flood or earthquake. Only at the bottom of the page are two small paragraphs forest fireWithout advice on how to stay safe.

No evacuation sirens sounded

To all these antecedents, we must add another which is important when establishing the causes which contributed to the deterioration. sadness.

According to the AP news agency, the forest fire burned hours before the city LahainaDistrict Officers Maui They didn’t implement Angels They would have warned people of the approaching flames. Instead, they sent social media messages that would have reached a much smaller audience.

The report also indicated that power outages and cell phone service prevented people from communicating in time to learn about the danger.

Telemundo One of the survivors, identified as Hector Bermudez, said he was able to leave his apartment. Lahaina Shores He was alerted by the smell of smoke that woke him from sleep. He said he asked a neighbor if he was also leaving.

“He said, ‘No, I’m waiting to see what the authorities are going to do.Bermudez explained. “I said, ‘No, no, no, please go away. This smoke is going to kill us. You have to go, please. You have to get out of here. Don’t wait for anybody.”.

Losses at Lahaina

According to the AFP agency, the fire that started on Wednesday affected or destroyed more than 2,200 structures. Lahaina. Officially, Losses are estimated at $5.5 billion.Not counting the thousands of victims who lost their homes.

Lahaina It has a population of 13,000. The Andhra agency said on Monday that the fire is already 85% contained.

According to official data, about 4,500 people will need shelter in the coming days, and a total of about 3,560 gallons of water per day is needed to meet the needs of all those affected. Telemundo.

“The remains we find are from the fire that melted the metal.”Maui Police Chief John Pelletier said.

The official explained that it was difficult to identify the recovered bodies, AFP reported. Only two of them could be identified, so he asked relatives of the missing to undergo DNA testing.

“We’re going as fast as we can. But you know: 3%, that’s what was tracked with the dogs.”he added.

Police Maui He said he would not allow him to enter

including those who can prove they live there while security assessments are carried out and searches continue.