A Hawaii resident amid the state’s apocalyptic wildfires has revealed the charred remains of scores of victims washed up during the crisis.
Kekoa Lansford said his town of Lahaina, the epicenter of the fires on the island of Maui, will take “years to repair the damage” after the dust settles over the natural disaster.
“That’s not even the worst part,” he told the BBC, pointing at the razed city. “(We) are still finding bodies in the floating water and on the seawall.”
Before President Biden promised endless federal aid Thursday, Lansford slammed officials’ response, saying, “I feel like we’re not getting the help that we need.”
His comments came a day before Hawaii Gov. Josh Green announced the death toll had risen to 53, a number expected to rise “significantly” in the coming days.
Authorities managed to evacuate 14,500 people from the island on Thursday. But at least 2,000 are expected to have restless sleep as authorities scramble to help residents and tourists escape the fires.
Kekoa Lansford said his town of Lahaina, the epicenter of the fires on the island of Maui, “will take years” to fix.
Scores of bodies are still being recovered in Lahaina after the wildfires killed at least 53 people. Some residents said charred remains washed up to the seawall
When the fires broke on Tuesday, drought-like conditions after a summer of high temperatures and little rain – combined with winds from Hurricane Dora – meant the blazes spread quickly.
Surprised by many local residents and tourists, some plunged into the sea to escape the sweltering streets.
US Coast Guard commander Aja Kirksey told CNN that around 100 people are believed to have jumped into the water in a desperate attempt to escape the fast-moving flames.
Kirksey said helicopter pilots had trouble seeing because of the thick smoke billowing from the massive blaze, but a Coast Guard vessel was able to rescue more than 50 people from the water.
“It was a really fast-moving scene and quite upsetting for the victims who had to jump in the water,” she added.
After officials were able to contain much of the fires in Lahaina, more than 80 percent of the community was leveled, Green said. Lansford’s fears that the city could take years to rebuild were echoed by the governor at a news conference on Thursday.
“When you see the full extent of the destruction of Lahaina, it will shock you,” he said, noting that the renovation could cost billions of dollars.
“All of these buildings need to be practically rebuilt.” “It’s going to be a new Lahaina, building Maui in its own image and with its own values,” he added.
People were ordered off the island of Maui by officials as the wildfires caused untold damage
Maui County officials organized buses for stranded tourists to take them to airports
Officials ordered people to leave Maui “as soon as possible.”
Several thousand Hawaiians fled their homes on Maui as the Lahaina fire swept across the island. Pictured: People gather while waiting for flights at Kahului Airport on Wednesday, August 9, 2023
Stranded tourists at Kahului Airport while waiting for flights, Wednesday, August 9, 2023
Smoke billows near Lahaina as wildfires caused by high winds destroy much of the historic town of Lahaina
When the forest fires broke out, residents and holidaymakers alike had to go to safety. More than 14,000 people had to leave the island of Maui on Wednesday.
According to a press release from the Hawaii Tourism Authority, another 14,500 people from the burnt island are expected to join them by the end of Thursday.
Many of those trying to find safety ended up in temporary shelters. BBC journalist Max Matza reported from one of the facilities that more people discovered bodies floating in the water.
“I found two bodies floating by my seawall,” said a local resident, who said he didn’t listen to Gov. Green’s press conference because he didn’t want to be reminded of the disaster.
The unnamed man added that he is still waiting to hear from “some people” who may be among the countless people still missing. At his press conference, Green admitted that more than 1,000 people may still be missing.
As the death toll rose by 17 on Thursday, the wildfires became one of the deadliest disasters to hit the Hawaiian Islands since its inception as a U.S. state in 1959.
“In 1960 we had 61 fatalities when a great wave swept over the Big Island,” Green said, referring to a tragedy that occurred a year after Hawaii became the 50th state.
“This time it is very likely that our death toll will significantly exceed that number,” he added.
The governor said the devastated city now looks “as if it had been hit by a bomb,” adding: “It looks like complete devastation; “Buildings that we have all enjoyed and celebrated together for decades, for generations, are being completely destroyed.”
Those buildings included the hall of historic Wailoa Church in Lahaina, which burst into flames as high winds swayed surrounding trees.
Officials said they expect it will cost billions of dollars to rebuild
The hall of the historic Waiola Church in Lahaina and the nearby Lahaina Hongwanji Mission along Wainee Street caught fire on August 8, 2023
After hearing reports that her home was destroyed along with her pets, Steff Baku-Kirkman responds after it was believed that wildfires caused by high winds destroyed much of the historic town of Lahaina
Aerial photographs of Lahaina, which served as the capital of the Hawaiian Kingdom in the early 19th century, showed entire city blocks burned to ash.
Green said about 1,700 buildings have now been affected by the fire.
“As lives are lost and property decimated, we mourn together at this heartbreaking time,” said Richard Bissen, Mayor of Maui.
“In the coming days, we will be stronger as a… community,” he added, “as we rebuild with resilience and aloha.”
While President Biden has pledged endless resources to Hawaiian authorities to help them end the crisis, Maui County authorities urged visitors to leave “as soon as possible” and organized buses to take the evacuees from the shelters to bring to the airport.