Hawaii wildfire death toll ‘will rise significantly’ from current total of 36 and ‘billions of dollars worth of property have been destroyed’, governor warns – as officials update tonight
- Josh Green, Hawaii’s Democratic governor, told CNN Thursday night that the death toll of 36 is likely to rise significantly
- Green said it would likely surpass the 1960 tsunami, which killed 61 people
- He said 1,700 buildings were destroyed and billions of dollars in damage were caused
Hawaii’s governor said Thursday that the death toll from Maui’s wildfires is likely to rise significantly, saying it could eclipse the 1960 tsunami that killed 61 people.
The death toll currently stands at 36, but Josh Green said it would rise. Officials will provide an update later on Thursday.
“I’ll tell you, by the time this disaster is all documented, I’m sure dozens of people will have lost their lives and billions of dollars worth of property destroyed,” Green said.
He told CNN’s Wolf Blitzer The fire probably destroyed 1,700 buildings.
He said most buildings in Lahaina, a historic town in Maui, are completely gone, some still smoldering.
Only a few stone buildings are still standing, he said.
“We’re also just now sending some of our search and rescue personnel to other homes,” Green said, adding that helicopters are also surveying the area.
A man walks through the smoldering ruins of Lahaina on Wednesday
Burnt-out cars can be seen after the fires devastated parts of Maui
Smoke from the fires will rise over Lahaina Thursday
The cause of the forest fire remains unknown.
Green said it was likely to become a bigger natural disaster than the May 1960 tsunami caused by an earthquake in Chile.
61 people died in that tragedy.
Hawaii is not immune to wildfires: In 2018, a total of 30,000 acres burned, with flames fueled by Hurricane Lane.
This time strong winds were brought by Hurricane Dora, which moved south of the islands.
A member of the Hawaii Army National Guard looks out the window as a CH47 Chinook drops a water bucket from the air on the island of Maui Wednesday