The White House says President Joe Biden has directed the federal government to provide additional assistance for recovery efforts following the Hawaii wildfires that have killed at least 53 people.
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| Many structures were burned down by a wildfire in Maui, Hawaii, USA, August 10, 2023. (Photo: Reuters) |
On August 10, US President Joe Biden declared a state of disaster in Hawaii amid wildfires that have killed at least 53 people and destroyed or damaged hundreds of structures.
In a press release, the White House said Mr. Biden directed the federal government to provide additional support for state and local recovery efforts in affected areas.
Affected individuals in Maui County will receive state grants for temporary housing and home repairs.
The state also offers individuals and business owners low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses and a number of other programs to help them recover from bushfire disasters.
At least three large fires broke out late on August 8 on the west coast of Maui and quickly spread, engulfing the coastal town of Lahaina.
The fire spread so quickly that many residents and tourists were caught off guard, many people suffered burns, smoke inhalation and injuries.
Search and rescue efforts are still underway, while thousands of people have been evacuated to emergency shelters or left the island.
Hawaii Governor Josh Green said the death toll was expected to rise. According to Green, 80% of the city of Lahaina was burned.
More than 270 structures were destroyed or damaged, and about 1,700 homes were affected. "We're going to have to rebuild the entire Lahaina," Governor Green assessed.
It was the worst disaster to hit Hawaii since 1960, a year after Hawaii became a US state, when a tsunami killed 61 people.
Lahaina is one of Maui's tourist attractions, with 2 million visitors a year, or about 80% of all visitors to the island.
The cause of the Maui wildfire is unknown, but the US National Weather Service said dry vegetation, strong winds and low humidity caused the wildfire.
Wildfires occur every year in Hawaii, but this year's fires have been faster and larger than usual, according to Thomas Smith, professor of environmental geography at the London School of Economics and Political Science.
According to Nhandan.vn
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