Iran Press/ America: The historic town of Lahaina has been completely destroyed, and the extent of the damage is expected to take years to repair and cost billions of dollars.
Maui County Police Chief John Pelletier has warned that the death toll is likely to rise and has urged residents not to return to Lahaina until all deceased individuals have been recovered.
During a news conference, Hawaii Governor Josh Green (D) linked the fires to global warming, stating that "Climate change is here, and it's impacting the islands."
As of Thursday, none of the four major fires that broke out on Tuesday have been fully contained, as stated by Maui County Fire Chief Bradford Ventura.
He also cautioned that there is still a potential for rapid-fire behavior. In response to the devastating situation, President Biden declared a "major disaster" in Hawaii on Thursday and authorized federal aid for areas affected by the wildfires.
Over 130 members of the Hawaii National Guard have been mobilized, with helicopters conducting search operations in areas without power and accessible roads for those who may still be stranded.
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Maui wildfire death toll hits 53 and may rise
