At Least 36 Dead From Wildfires in Hawaii
Summary from the AllSides News Team
Local officials in Maui, Hawaii have reported that at least 36 people have died amid wildfires in Lahaina, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has approved Hawaii's request for public assistance.
Key Details: Maui fire officials warned that the fires are a result of steep slopes, erratic winds, and dropping humidity. The direction of the fires and difficult terrain have complicated efforts to predict their speed and path. Thousands have fled the island to escape the devastation, and hundreds of structures have been damaged.
Key Quote: "There are still so many people that we are unable to get in touch with, and that still remains true for many families here," said Maui resident Dustin Kaleiopu in an interview on NBC News' "Today" program. "Everyone I know is now homeless."
For Context: On Tuesday, acting Gov. Sylvia Luke (D-HI) issued an emergency declaration for the wildfires after powerful winds from Hurricane Dora fanned the flames.
How the Media Covered it: The wildfires in Hawaii have been widely reported by sources across the political spectrum. Some sources on the left framed the fires as the latest in a series of extreme weather events caused by climate change.
Featured Coverage of this Story
From the Left
Death toll climbs from fires burning in Hawaii, Maui County reports
At least 36 people have died in the Lahaina fire in Hawaii, Maui County wrote in a statement posted to the county website Wednesday evening.
Wildfires, whipped by strong winds from Hurricane Dora passing far to the south, took the island of Maui by surprise, leaving behind burned-out cars on once busy streets and smoking piles of rubble where historic buildings had stood. Flames roared throughout the night, forcing adults and children to dive into the ocean for safety.
Officials said earlier that 271 structures were damaged or destroyed and...
From the Right
Hawaii fire: At least 36 dead from natural disaster
At least 36 people have died due to the wildfires in Maui, Hawaii, county officials announced late Wednesday local time.
No less than 20 others have been injured in the fires focused in Maui County, and nearly 300 structures have been damaged from the natural disaster. Thousands have fled the island of Maui to escape the devastation.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency approved the state's request for a disaster declaration to provide assistance with the wildfires. An emergency declaration for the state was issued on Tuesday night.
Maui fire officials warned that the fires are a result of...
From the Center
Hawaii wildfires ravage Maui island resort city, killing dozens
A wildfire that swept through the picturesque resort town of Lahaina on Hawaii's Maui island has killed at least 36 people, authorities said, leaving smoldering ruins in its wake and forcing thousands to flee the devastation.
Video footage showed neighborhoods and businesses razed and vehicles burnt to a crisp across the western side of the island as the wildfires cut off most roads out of Lahaina, the largest tourist destination on Maui and home to multiple large hotels.
Maui resident Dustin Kaleiopu on Thursday said his family, now on the...
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