KAHULUI, Hawaii: The death toll from the United States' deadliest wildfire in more than a century approached 100 on Sunday, fueling criticism that government inaction contributed to the heavy loss of life.
At least 96 people were confirmed dead from the blaze in central Hawaii as of Sunday night, but officials warned that the figure was likely to rise as recovery crews with cadaver dogs work their way through hundreds of homes and burned-out vehicles in Lahaina.
ALL BY MYSELF A firefighter uses a hose line to extinguish a fire near homes in Kula, Maui County, central Hawaii on Sunday, Aug. 13, 2023. AFP PHOTO
The historic coastal town on the island of Maui was almost destroyed by the fast-moving inferno on early Wednesday morning, with survivors saying there had been no warnings.
When asked on Sunday why none of the island's sirens had been activated, Hawaii Sen. Mazie Hirono said she would wait for the results of an investigation announced by the state's attorney general.
"I'm not going to make any excuses for this tragedy," Hirono, a Democrat, told CNN's "State of the Union" program. "We are really focused, as far as I'm concerned, on the need for rescue, and, sadly, the location of more bodies."
More than 2,200 buildings were damaged or destroyed as the fire tore through Lahaina, according to official estimates, wreaking $5.5 billion in damage and leaving thousands homeless.
"The remains we're finding are from a fire that melted metal," said Maui Police Chief John Pelletier. "When we pick up the remains ... they fall apart."
That was making identification difficult, he added, appealing for those with missing relatives to give DNA samples that might speed up the process.
Pelletier said cadaver dogs still had a vast area to search in the hunt for what could still be hundreds of people unaccounted for.
"We're going as fast as we can. But just so you know, 3 percent — that's what's been searched with the dogs," he said.