Hawaii, mag-iimbestiga sa nangyaring wildfire; bilang ng nasawi umakyat na sa 67
Destroyed buildings and homes are pictured in the aftermath of a wildfire in Lahaina, western Maui, Hawaii on August 10, 2023. A wildfire that left Lahaina in charred ruins has killed at least 55 people, authorities said on August 10, making it one of the deadliest disasters in the US state’s history. Brushfires on Maui, fueled by high winds from Hurricane Dora passing to the south of Hawaii, broke out August 8 and rapidly engulfed Lahaina. (Photo by Paula RAMON / AFP)
Sinabi ng chief legal officer ng Hawaii, na bubuksan niya ang isang imbestigasyon sa mapaminsalang wildfires na ikinasawi ng hindi bababa sa 67 katao, sa gitna ng dumaraming pagpuna sa ginawang pagtugon dito ng mga kinauukulan.
Ang anunsiyo ay ginawa habang pinayagan na ang mga residente ng Lahaina na bumalik sa bayan sa unang pagkakataon, kung saan marami sa kanila ay nakita ang kanilang mga bahay na abo na lamang, at ang ilan naman ay nakaramdam ng galit at pakiramdam na sila ay inabandona.
Sinabi ni Hawaii Attorney General Anne Lopez, “My office would be examining ‘critical decision-making and standing policies’ leading up to, during and after the wildfires on Maui and Hawai’i islands this week. My department is committed to understanding the decisions that were made before and during the wildfires and to sharing with the public the results of this review.”
Para sa ilan sa mga nakabalik sa Lahaina, masaya sila na muling makita ang mga kapitbahay na pinangambahan nilang hindi nakalabas ng buhay, ngunit maging ang i-ilan na ang mga tahanan ay mukhang puwede pang tirhan ay binabalaan na maaaring hindi na iyon ligtas.
Ayon sa water department ng Maui, “Some structures in the Lahaina water system were destroyed by the fire… These conditions may have caused harmful contaminants, including benzene and other volatile organic chemicals (VOCs), to enter the water system. As a precaution…(we) are advising residents to not use the tap water for drinking and cooking until further notice.”
Ang kumpirmadong nasawi ay umakyat na sa 67, mas mataas kaysa bilang ng mga namatay sa nangyaring tsunami sa Big Island noong 1960.
Sinabi ni Governor Josh Green, “Without a doubt, there will be more fatalities. We don’t know ultimately how many will have occurred.”
Ayon sa Maui County, dumating na ang mga crew mula sa Honolulu kasama ng search and rescue teams at K-9 cadaver dogs.
Patuloy namang inaapula ng mga bumbero ang mga sumisiklab pang sunog upang tuluyan nang mapigil ang wildfires sa Lahaina.
Sinabi ni Maui County Police Chief John Pelletier, “As many as 1,000 people could be unaccounted for, though this did not mean they were missing or dead. Communications in the western part of the island remain tricky, and many of those whose whereabouts were not known could simply be out of reach.”
