Direct Attack on the Scene: The Sorrow, Anger, and Expectations of Disaster Victims - Direct Attack on the Severe Wildfire Disaster Area of La Haina, Hawaii, 20th | Tan Jingjing | Wildfire | Anger
Maui Island, USA, August 20 (Xinhua) - On site direct attack: The sadness, anger, and expectations of the disaster victims - direct attack on the wildfire stricken area of La Haina, Hawaii
Xinhua News Agency reporter Gao Shan Tan Jingjing
On the 20th, the air in La Haina, a famous tourist town on Maui Island in Hawaii, USA, which was hit by a wildfire disaster, was still filled with a burnt smell. The reporter saw charred ruins and broken walls everywhere, and the areas where the fire occurred have been isolated by obstacles such as wire mesh. The entrances and exits are also strictly controlled by the military and police, and some charitable organization personnel are busy moving materials in relatively intact areas of the building.
This is a post wildfire scene taken on August 20th in La Haina, Maui Island, Hawaii, USA. Shen Jizhong
On the afternoon of the 20th, Deborah, a haggard resident of La Haina, sat in front of a surviving shop with a simple meal she had just received from a charity organization. Beside her were only two small backpacks, which was all she had now.
"I have lost my car, my residence, my shop, and everything," Deborah told Xinhua News Agency. These are all the achievements she has made over the past 11 years in La Haina, but now they have all been set on fire.
This is a post wildfire scene taken on August 20th in La Haina, Maui Island, Hawaii, USA. Shen Jizhong
The wildfire disaster that began on the 8th has caused at least 114 deaths and over 2200 houses to be destroyed on Maui Island, making it the deadliest wildfire in the United States in over a century. The town of Lahaina, with approximately 13000 people, is a severely affected area. As of the 20th, although the search has covered about 85% of the fire affected areas, Hawaii Governor Green stated that there are still about 1050 people missing, some of whom may never return, and the search may continue for several weeks.
Deborah's residence and clothing store are located in one of the earlier areas engulfed by the wildfire, and she recalls to reporters the terrifying and chaotic scenes of the wildfire.
"When the smoke billowed from afar, my neighbors and I stood at the door, no one knew what had happened, and no one informed us." Deborah said that when the smoke and fire approached, she hurriedly packed two small bags and drove to the seaside, but the street had become a pot of Congee, and the long motorcade was blocked in the narrow street, and finally had to abandon the car to escape.
This is a post wildfire scene taken on August 20th in La Haina, Maui Island, Hawaii, USA. Shen Jizhong
According to US media reports, residents of La Haina have expressed dissatisfaction with their failure to receive warning messages, the lack of response from the alarm system, and the slow response of relevant government departments to the disaster situation.
Local media reported on the 20th that the State Emergency Management Bureau had "reminded" the emergency department of Maoi County that outdoor alarms can be used to notify residents to avoid wildfires. However, these alarms did not sound when the wildfire struck. After the disaster response work was widely questioned, Herman Andaya, the head of the emergency management agency in Maoi County, announced his resignation on the 17th for "health reasons".
Deborah said she has submitted a disaster relief assistance application to the Federal Emergency Management Agency in the United States, but the application has been pending approval and she is eagerly looking forward to it being approved soon.
Although the emergency repair work for power facilities is ongoing in La Haina, local residents have expressed that the safety of the power system is also one of the controversial points in this wildfire disaster. In addition, due to the upcoming storm, disaster victims are generally concerned about electricity safety and urgently hope that relevant institutions can accelerate the pace of assistance.
La Haina resident Gribelach said that he can only live with relatives at present. He said, "The fire destroyed everything, and I don't know when I can return to my home."
Deborah expressed the hope that the reconstruction work can start as soon as possible, "we will not leave our own homes.".
This is a post wildfire scene taken on August 20th in La Haina, Maui Island, Hawaii, USA. Shen Jizhong
