The death toll from the Maui wildfire climbed to 80 Friday as Maui fire crews battled blazes still scorching parts of the island and rescue workers searched for about 1,000 people reported missing as questions began to swirl about Hawaii's emergency warning system.
USATODAY reports confirmed deaths from the inferno that erupted Tuesday − fueled by winds from Hurricane Dora and exacerbated by overly dry vegetation from the ongoing drought − now officially make the Maui natural disaster the worst that Hawaii has seen since becoming a state in 1959.
There is still no end in sight. Cadaver-sniffing dogs were brought in Friday to assist the search for the dead, Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen Jr. said.
The death toll of 80 surpasses the state’s deadliest previous largest natural disaster, a 1960 tsunami that killed 61 people. An even deadlier tsunami in 1946, prior to Hawaii's statehood, killed more than 150 on the Big Island. The 1946 tsunami prompted the development of the territory-wide emergency system that includes sirens, which are sounded monthly to test their readiness.
This is the first I’ve seen this video - The people who jumped into the Pacific Ocean to save their lives as Lahaina, Hawaii burned. Shocking, and terrifying.
— Justin Michaels (@JMichaelsNews) August 11, 2023
pic.twitter.com/EgQArUSWsZ
Many fire survivors in this week's conflagration said in interviews that they didn’t hear any sirens or receive a warning that gave them enough time to prepare, realizing they were in danger only when they saw flames or heard explosions nearby.
Radio stations in Maui are using their shows to spread important information and broadcast the concerns of those in need following the deadly wildfires. KHNL's Daryl Huff reports.
Radio hosts in Maui take calls to keep the community informed https://t.co/vGoVnPJaon via @nbcnews
— Tom Benson (@Tombenson1) August 12, 2023
A valued source of communication, Maui radio DJs grapple with lack of information https://t.co/woOm4OiyEL @KPOA935FM #SistaVal @hi92maui
— RBR+TVBR (@RBRTVBR) August 11, 2023
Radio stations on Maui are now airing County of Maui updates on the Lahaina wildfire incident at 9 a.m., noon and 3 p.m. Radio updates will supplement information posted on the county’s website, Facebook and Instagram pages.Maui radio stations include the following:
- Pacific Media Group on KPOA FM 92.9 (west side) / FM 93.5; KJKS FM 99.3 (west side) / FM 99.9 FM; KJMD FM 107.1 (west side) / FM 98.3; KHLI FM 101.7 (west side) / FM 92.5; KMVI AM 900 / FM 102.5; and KNUI AM 550 / FM 106.1
- KAOI Radio Group on 1110 AM / 96.7 FM
- KPMW FM 105.5
- Akaku’s KAKU 88.5
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