The death toll from wildfires on Hawaii’s Maui has risen to 67 as they torched 1,000 buildings and left thousands homeless. The fires became the deadliest natural disaster in the state’s history.
Meanwhile, Hawaii’s attorney general said on Friday that she was opening a probe into how authorities responded to devastating wildfires. Three days after the disaster, it remained unclear whether some residents had received any warning before the fire engulfed their homes.
Maui County officials said in an online statement that firefighters continued to battle the blaze, which was not yet fully contained.
The disaster began unfolding just after midnight on Tuesday when a brush fire was reported in the town of Kula, roughly 56km (35 miles) from Lahaina. About five hours later that morning, power was knocked out in Lahaina, according to residents.
