Death Toll Rises in Hawaii Wildfires While Officials Search for Answers

Wildfires in Hawaii that have ripped through Lahaina and Maui are being called the worst in U.S. history in a century. The death toll has reached nearly 100, with officials saying that that number is expected to rise.

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Wildfire wreckage is shown Thursday, Aug. 10, 2023, in Lahaina, Hawaii. Currently, the Maui wildfires are the nation's fifth-deadliest on record, according to research by the National Fire Protection Association, a nonprofit that publishes fire codes and standards used in the U.S. and around the world.(AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
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Wildfires in Hawaii that have ripped through Lahaina and Maui are being called the worst in U.S. history in a century. The death toll has reached nearly 100, with officials saying that that number is expected to rise.

Hawaii Governor Josh Green said yesterday that he ordered a comprehensive review of what happened in the early hours. The damage across Maui amounts to close to $6 billion and at least 2,700 structures have been destroyed.

Green also said 35 additional members of an urban search and rescue team will be arriving along with 20 dogs to help sort through the rubble.

The fire is currently out but there are some hot spots. Wind gusts of up to 81 miles per hour have been reported. One question that still needs to be answered: why did emergency sirens not sound to warn residents of the fire?

Meanwhile, Hawaii officials are urging tourists to avoid traveling to the area as hotels prepare to house evacuees.


Click play to listen to the report from AURN White House Correspondent Ebony McMorris. For more news, follow @E_N_McMorris & @aurnonline.

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AURN NEWS WITH EBONY MCMORRIS