The historic town of Lahaina fell victim to a devastating fire, resulting in the confirmed deaths of eighty-nine individuals. This catastrophic incident has marked the deadliest fire in the United States over the past century.
Hawaii's Governor, Josh Green, cautioned on Saturday that the count of victims might escalate "significantly" as authorities continue their forensic efforts to identify those lost in the tragedy. As the flames forced hundreds to flee their homes, many remain unaccounted for, seeking refuge in shelters across Maui.
Facing the grim reality, Governor Green expressed, "It's a day of immense challenges." He acknowledged that this fire would undoubtedly go down as Hawaii's most severe natural disaster, emphasizing the need to focus on reuniting survivors, providing them with housing and healthcare, and eventually initiating the arduous process of reconstruction.
Although the wildfires have been largely contained, ongoing efforts persist to fully extinguish lingering flames in various parts of the island, particularly in the devastated Lahaina area. Search and recovery operations have concentrated on the coastal regions, utilizing specially trained sniffer dogs to detect potential human remains amidst the debris.
The search has covered a mere 3% of the designated area thus far, as shared by a visibly moved Maui Police Chief, John Pelletier.
"It's necessary to conduct rapid DNA testing for identification purposes, as each of these 89 victims was initially unknown, labeled as John and Jane Doe," he stated.
"The magnitude of this situation is not fully comprehended by any of us."
Jeremy Greenberg, a high-ranking official from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), emphasized to the BBC that the additional assistance being dispatched includes urban search and rescue teams, as well as fire suppression units.
"Without a doubt, the foremost priority is ensuring the safety of survivors," he affirmed.
Mr. Greenberg went on to explain that although nearly 1,000 individuals are yet to be contacted, some of them might indeed be safe but inaccessible due to various reasons.
Inside the emergency shelter at Maui's War Memorial Complex on Saturday, numerous evacuees continued to gather, receiving essentials such as food, toiletries, and medical assistance from an ever-increasing group of volunteers.
Prominently displayed whiteboards detailed the most urgent requirements - batteries, water, and generators - and emphasized, in capital letters, that no further clothing donations were necessary.
Keapo Bissen, a member of the War Memorial shelter team, shared that the list of missing individuals was fluctuating by the hour, as more people reported their absent loved ones and others were located.
"We've witnessed numerous heartwarming reunions occurring right here in this parking lot," she shared. "That has genuinely been a silver lining amidst all of this."
It's estimated that over 2,000 structures have sustained damage or been obliterated since the fires ignited. A significant portion of these structures were homes in the Lahaina region.
The primary route to Lahaina, known as the Honoapiilani highway, was briefly reopened to local residents on Saturday, but it was promptly closed again.
Nonetheless, hundreds of Lahaina residents persisted in lining up along the highway, hoping to be granted passage.
Liz Germansky, who lost her home to the fire, expressed frustration with the response. "The government is hindering people from assisting," she asserted while sitting in the same traffic queue.
Another route, the Kahekili Highway, is technically open, yet locals assert that attempting that drive is excessively perilous. This route, referred to colloquially as "the backroad" to Lahaina, is scarcely wide enough for a single car, boasts numerous hairpin turns, and features a steep drop-off.
"We can't navigate this truck there. It's a cliff," remarked resident Ruth Lee, who was stuck in traffic while trying to transport supplies to her family that remained behind.
The expense of reconstructing Maui is projected to be around $5.5 billion (£4.3 billion), according to the Pacific Disaster Center (PDC) and FEMA, which is orchestrating the relief initiative from Washington to Hawaii.
Helicopter pilot Richard Olsten conducted aerial surveys over Maui and relayed to the BBC that even most of the boats in the harbor had been incinerated and had subsequently sunk.
"Prominent structures, such as the church, the missionary building, and so forth, have all been lost," he recounted.
"The central tourist area featuring shops and restaurants, the historic front street - all reduced to ashes."
Felicia Johnson, the proprietor of a printing business located in Kuhului, Maui, is orchestrating an extensive grassroots response to the calamity.
Having familial ties to the Lahaina region, she has accumulated numerous pounds of donated provisions for transport. However, she has encountered obstacles in transporting them through the government checkpoint.
For her, the most emotionally challenging aspect is beseeching authorities for permission to access the area with her donated supplies. This difficulty surpasses the devastation she has observed while delivering the provisions. "That's what's truly tearing me apart - I have to persistently implore you to allow me to enter and provide sustenance," she conveyed.
Numerous docks in the vicinity have suffered severe damage or complete destruction, rendering the transport of supplies by boat unfeasible, according to Ms. Johnson. Some individuals who embarked on this journey have resorted to swimming the supplies to shore.
Several young men assisting her with loading supplies attribute the challenges to governmental mismanagement and bureaucratic hurdles.
"Too many leaders, not enough action-takers," remarked Bradah Young, aged 25.
"Everyone seems to be in a position of authority, but there's a dearth of proactive measures," echoed another man.
As they departed with hopes of gaining passage through the checkpoint, one man gestured a shaka - a traditional hand gesture of greeting in Hawaii.