Paradise Island Fire Disaster: Death Toll Rises in Hawaii

The fire disaster that started the day before in Hawaii, one of the world’s few vacation regions, continues…

The number of people who lost their lives in the fire disaster, which began Tuesday in Maui’s Lahaina region and was unable to be extinguished due to Hurricane Dora, has risen to 53. Officials announced they could not reach 1,000 people in the island.

“80 PERCENT DISAPPEARED”

Hawaii Governor Josh Green described the fires as the worst natural disaster in Hawaii state history, saying, “80 percent of the historic coastal town of Lahaina was destroyed.” Many tourists and locals who were exposed to the fire in Lahaina were said to have run into the sea and waited for help in the water for hours.

TEN THOUSAND PEOPLE FOUND IN THE DARK

Maui region local council head Alice Lee said a large number of people could not be reached in the area, while it was announced that 1000 people could not be reached due to network failure, but he assured that this number may be less than the one announced.

“We are in a very difficult situation,” Lee said. Fortunately, we are a very strong community and everyone is trying to help each other.”

The authorities announced that there was a power outage in the region where more than 11,000 people live in the west of the island, while tens of thousands of people were evacuated from the island.

On the incident, US President Joe Biden also spoke out and made a decision. Biden announced that he would be paid to get the island back on its feet by making a “big disaster decision.”

MANY CELEBRITIES HAVE HOMES ON THE ISLAND

Following the fire that burned the island of Maui, all eyes turned to celebrities who have homes in the region.

While famed musician Mick Fleetwood’s home and restaurant were destroyed in the fire, names like Jeff Bezos, Oprah Winfrey, Steven Tyler and Clint Eastwood also have homes. In the official statements made now, it was stated that the houses of Bezos, Winfrey, Tyler, Eastwood are safe.

Notably, Winfrey had a house in 3 regions. It was also announced that one of Oprah Winfrey’s houses was located in the Kula area, where the flames rose. Winfrey has lived on Maui for over 15 years. Winfrey bought an 870-hectare parcel in Kula for $6.6 million in February.

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos bought a 14-hectare property near Le Perouse Bay for $78 million in 2021.