Maui fires - latest news: Emergency chief quits over response to Hawaii fires as death toll hits 111 - The Independent

Maui fires - latest news: Emergency chief quits over response to Hawaii fires as death toll hits 111 | The Independent

Maui fires – live: Emergency chief quits over response to Hawaii fires as death toll hits 111

Investigations into the cause of the Maui wildfire blazes are underway

Ariana Baio,
Stuti Mishra Comments

The head of the Maui Emergency Management Agency resigned abruptly on Thursday, as officials come under increased scrutiny over the respons e to the devastating wildfires.

The resignation of Herman Andaya comes a day after he defended his decision of not using outdoor alert sirens during the wildfires that devastated the historic seaside community of Lahaina and have killed at least 111 people so far.

Mr Andaya cited unspecified health reasons, with no further details provided in his letter.

“Given the gravity of the crisis we are facing, my team and I will be placing someone in this key position as quickly as possible,” Mayor Richard Bissen said in the statement.

Meanwhile, search efforts are underway, as residents of Maui are reporting that investors and realtors are trying to capitalise on the wildfires to purchase land from locals.

“We’re not going to allow it,” Governor Josh Green said.

The Hawaii governor said he expects re-building the burned area of Maui to cost $5 billion or more. Already, federal, state and local relief aid has been directed toward Maui.
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A brief history of natural disasters in Hawaii

A brief history of natural disasters in Hawaii, from tsunamis to wildfires

Climate crisis and agricultural neglect are blamed for the Pacific state’s increasing vulnerability to fires, which were until recently considered a rare occurrence on the islands
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Tourist criticised for Hawaii vacation post during Maui wildfire crisis

As the death toll from the Hawaii wildfires reaches at least 111 people, one woman decided to showcase her vacation to the island in a now-private video on TikTok.

In the video, user Yvette Mares showed off footage from her Hawaii vacation as an upbeat song called “Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ride” played in the background, according to the Daily Dot.

The track clearly contrasted the sombre tone currently associated with the state of Hawaii, as governor Josh Green recently announced that the number of fatalities may continue to increase by 10 to 20 people per day, while officials continue to search for survivors and victims.

Since the video has been posted, Mares has received backlash online for her lack of awareness and poor timing of the TikTok post. Although her account is now private, that has not stopped others from making sure the video didn’t go unnoticed.
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Filipino among victims of Hawaii wildfires

A Filipino national is believed to be one of the 111 victims of Hawaii's devastating wildfires, according to the Philippines media.

The Philippines Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said on Friday that one of the victims of the wildfires was a person from the southeast Asian country, according to ABS-CBN news.

The name of the person was not revealed and so far only a handful victims have been identified by authorities.

The DFA said the Filipino was a naturalized US citizen, who hailed from Ilocos
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'He was trying to do the job': Former mayor defends Maui chief after resignation

Former mayor of Maui county Alan Arakawa has defended emergency chief Herman Andaya after he resigned from his post following criticism over wildfire response.

Mr Andaya, who sent his resignation on Thursday citing health as a reason, had previously been deputy director of the Maui County department of housing and human concerns and had been chief of staff for former Mr Arakawa for 11 years.

The former mayor said he was disappointed by the resignation "because now we're out one person who is really qualified."

He said Mr Andaya was scrutinised for the job by the county's personnel service.

"He was trying to be strong and trying to do the job," Mr Arakawa said about the wildfire response.

"He was very, very heartbroken about all the things that happened."
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How Hawaii residents are uniting to help victims as aid makes the long journey to the fire-stricken island

Volunteers on Maui have cobbled together countless improvised, urgent solutions like shipments of insulin in response to the country’s deadliest wildfire in over a century, which has killed more than 100 people and displaced thousands.

As nonprofit groups struggle to deliver aid to the second-farthest state from the US mainland, here's how mutual aid groups and local businesses are helping fill the cracks.

Read here:

Maui residents fill philanthropic gaps while aid makes the long journey to the fire-stricken island

Nonprofits and volunteers in Maui have cobbled together countless improvised and urgent solutions since the deadliest wildfire in over a century hit their community
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How officials are identifying charred bodies after Maui fires

As agonised loved ones yearn for information about those missing in Maui after the United States’ deadliest wildfire in more than a century, officials are struggling to identify the remains of more than 100 victims.

The advent of DNA technology and subsequent advances have provided powerful tools. But finding remains, zeroing in on genetic material or other clues and amassing the information needed to get a match still takes time – if certainty comes at all.

Here's a look at how the work of identification unfolds:

Identifying victims of the Maui wildfire will be a challenging task. Here's what it entails

Officials face a formidable challenge identifying the remains of more than 100 victims of the Maui blaze as agonized loved ones yearn for information on those missing after the United States’ deadliest wildfire in more than a century
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Full story: Maui wildfire official quits after defending decision not to sound sirens warning of blaze

Maui’s top emergencies official has abruptly resigned as local authorities came under increasing scrutiny over their response to the devastating wildfires that have killed at least 111 people on the Hawaiian island so far.

Herman Andaya, the chief of the Maui Emergency Management Agency, sent his letter of resignation to mayor Richard Bissen on Thursday, and it was accepted immediately, the county of Maui confirmed in a statement.

Here's what he said about his decisions in response to the wildfires and everything that led to his resignation:

Maui wildfire official quits after defending decision not to sound sirens

Herman Andaya cites unspecified health reasons for stepping down from role, amid a widespread public backlash
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Search for missing moves beyond Lahaina

The painstaking search for human remains through a burned-out area of ash and debris in Lahaina has covered at least 45 per cent of houses, governor Josh Green said on Thursday.

Authorities say the search for the missing has moved beyond Lahaina to other communities that were destroyed.

However, it will probably continue for at least another week.

The FBI's Honolulu division said it is helping Maui police locate and identify missing people. Immediate family members who are on Maui can provide DNA samples at the Hyatt Recency in Kaanapali beginning Friday, and those elsewhere can contact the FBI for instructions.
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Maui power authority responds to criticism

The Hawaii power authority has responded to criticism over leaving power lines on amid strong winds.

One video showed a cable dangling in a charred patch of grass, surrounded by flames, in the early moments, leading to speculations of a downed line being a possible cause of the wildfire.

“Facts about this event will continue to evolve,” Hawaiian Electric CEO Shelee Kimura wrote in an email to utility customers on Thursday, according to AP.

“And while we may not have answers for some time, we are committed, working with many others, to find out what happened as we continue to urgently focus on Maui’s restoration and rebuilding efforts.”
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