Officials have confirmed 80 people have died as a result of the wildfires which ripped through the Hawaiian island as of 9pm local time on Friday, August 11
The death toll in the devastating wildfires on the Hawaiian island of Maui reached at least 80 tonight as a new blaze triggered more evacuations.
About 1,500 people are still missing and officials believe the wildfires could end up being the deadliest disaster in the state’s history. Sniffer dogs were used to search for the dead as residents were evacuated from the western area of Kaanapali as the flames swept closer.
The order to leave came on Friday night, just hours after residents of nearby Lahaina were allowed to briefly return to take stock of the devastation. But rioters clashed with police when the main road was temporarily opened.
Maui Police Department announced on social media the death toll had risen again and said 14,900 visitors left by air on Thursday. Search-and-rescue operations continued yesterday and Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen Jr. warned that the death toll was likely to rise further.