Hawaii - Three days later, the island of Maui is grappling with the sorrowful loss of life and extensive damage to its landscape. Hawaii Governor Josh Green has issued a caution, indicating that more fatalities are anticipated.

The number of lives claimed by the devastating wildfires that have swept through Maui reached 67 on Friday, as firefighting teams continue to combat what is the most lethal natural catastrophe in the history of Hawaii.

As of Friday afternoon, authorities confirmed an additional 12 fatalities, pushing the total past the 61 deaths recorded from a tsunami in Hilo in 1960.

Governor Josh Green of Hawaii stated on Friday, "Undoubtedly, there will be more casualties. Ultimately, we cannot determine the exact count of lives lost."
"We have not yet conducted interior searches of the buildings. We await assistance from FEMA for this task, as they possess the necessary expertise to navigate the hazardous conditions within the structures," commented Richard Bissen, Mayor of Maui County, referring to the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

In the meantime, Lahaina residents have been permitted to return to their homes for the first time to evaluate the extent of the damage.

The reporters witnessed the devastation, with nearly every building reduced to rubble along Front Street, the core of the Maui community and the economic nucleus of the island. Roosters, typical of Hawaiian streets, wandered through the remains, including a somber scene of charred car wrecks that were unable to escape the inferno.

Cars incinerated under fallen telephone poles. Burnt elevator shafts remaining as symbols of the apartments they once served. Pools filled with water the color of charcoal. Trampolines and children's scooters twisted by the intense heat.

"The impact was swift, astonishing," remarked Kyle Scharnhorst, a Lahaina resident, as he assessed the damage to his apartment complex. "It was reminiscent of a war zone."

Three days after the tragedy, Maui mourns both the loss of life and the altered landscape, while questions arise about the official response to the fires.

Late on Thursday, officials confirmed that Hawaii's emergency management records revealed no activation of public warning sirens, despite the state boasting the world's largest integrated outdoor all-hazard public safety warning system.

"There was no warning whatsoever. No one came around. We didn't see a fire truck or anyone," said Lynn Robinson, who lost her home in the fire.

Instead, emergency alerts were sent to mobile phones, TVs, and radio stations by the county. However, power and cellphone service disruptions might have limited their reach.

Marlon Vasquez, a 31-year-old cook from Guatemala, stated that when he heard the fire alarms, it was already too late to escape in his car.

"I opened the door, and the fire was almost upon us," he recounted from an evacuation center at a gymnasium. "We ran and ran. We ran through most of the night and into the next day, because the fire didn't cease."

By Thursday afternoon, firefighters had managed to establish boundaries around much of the Lahaina fire and another one near the resort-heavy area of Kihei, though they were still not fully contained. Thousands of structures have been confirmed destroyed.

"Lahaina, with very few exceptions, has been razed to the ground. Undoubtedly, it appears as if Lahaina was subjected to a bombing," said Hawaii Governor Josh Green after inspecting the town's ruins on Thursday morning alongside the mayor.

"The recovery process will be exceedingly intricate, but we do encourage residents to return to their homes and cautiously assess the situation, as it is quite hazardous," Green shared with Hawaii News Now.

"Understand this: Lahaina Town is currently consecrated, sacred ground, as our iwi (ancestral remains) are in this soil," declared John Pelletier, Chief of Maui Police, during an afternoon press conference. "We are committed to extracting them. Yet, we ask for your patience during this process."

A government list of names of Lahaina residents reveals that hundreds of individuals remain unaccounted for, particularly due to severely impaired communication systems.