Nearly 72 hours after flames began to race through this historic Maui town, killing at least 67 people, the magnitude of the tragedy remained unclear Friday amid spotty communication and few official updates.
In Maui, the combination of grasslands parched by drought and fierce winds proved catastrophic Tuesday. The fires destroyed Lahaina and forced thousands of residents and tourists to flee. Firefighters areOfficials in Hawaii sounded shellshocked as they grappled with the loss of life and the sheer destruction caused by the fires. It will take years and billions of dollars to repair the damage, they said.
Each time his phone rings, David Collins said, he hopes to hear: “Hey Dad, I’m okay.” Instead he has found himself imagining that his son managed to escape from Maui’s sandy shores down the coast or into the ocean, and eventually to an evacuation center. But he is also wondering whether his planned trip will turn into a search of hospitals, shelters or even the coroner’s office.
The fire and smoke forced some people to flee into the ocean, some of whom reported being trapped for hours waiting to be rescued. A Coast Guard vessel backed by search helicopters plucked 17 people from Lahaina Harbor Breakwall, the service said, with all survivors in stable condition. Another 40 people ashore were located, the Coast GuardNick Bennett fled his home on the town’s Lahainaluna Road as his neighborhood was consumed by racing flames. “It was like a blowtorch,” he said.
“I think it was a failure on so many levels,” Kerstulovich said, breaking into tears. “The worst part is a lot of kids were home alone. Can you imagine how scared they were? We don’t know if they made it. But we know the body count is going to be much, much higher.”
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