The reconstruction cost is high, toxic pollution is difficult to solve, and there are many problems after the Maui Island fire in Hawaii. Buildings | Fire | Cost
A large fire broke out on Maui Island, Hawaii, USA on August 8th. According to a report from the Maui County government in Hawaii on the evening of the 17th, the number of deaths caused by the fire has risen to 111.
Hawaii Governor Green stated that search and rescue personnel have completed searches for around 58% of the affected areas. At present, the fires in Lahaina, Olinda, and Kula in Maoyi County have not been fully controlled. Among them, the area of fire in La Haina exceeded 878 hectares, and the area of fire in Olinda exceeded 437 hectares.
The Federal Emergency Investigation Team will be dispatched to Maui Island to assist the local government in investigating the cause of the fire. In addition, there are still over 1400 people living in shelters. According to the meteorological department, it is expected that the possibility of localized heavy rain in Hawaii will increase in the coming days, which may bring difficulties to search and rescue work.
People condemn the government's ineffective rescue efforts for causing heavy casualties and suffering
The losses caused by the Maui Island fire to the local people are devastating. They not only lost their homes and a large amount of property that they relied on for survival, but also many people lost their loved ones and even their own lives.
Survivors not only feel sad when facing media interviews, but also angry at the government's inadequate rescue efforts, condemning the irresponsible actions of the US government.
In this fire, the most devastating loss was in the once beautiful and bustling resort town of La Haina. Most of the residents in the town were indigenous people on the island of Hawaii, and now the entire town has been mercilessly burned down by the fire. On the main street of La Haina town, many buildings and vehicles are sprayed with the word "X", indicating that there are unidentified bodies of victims in the buildings or vehicles. Faced with such a scene, the residents of the small town still have doubts and confusion in their hearts, that is, where the government's rescue is really going.
According to local residents, in the days following the fire, many volunteers distributed food and essential supplies to them, and all the collected food, water, and essential supplies were donated by private individuals and transported by civil organizations or private institutions.
Local resident Bravo: We have lost family, friends, and our own houses, we have lost everything, we have nothing, but the government has not provided any assistance to us. The material assistance you see is all about community residents uniting and helping each other, and we have no other choice but to persevere.
Local resident Petri: I really hope to see government assistance, but I think the government's action is too slow. So in this situation where no one is in charge, it's great to see everyone united.
Local disaster victims have stated that the Federal Emergency Management Agency requires people to register on the website in order to receive temporary housing and other assistance. However, the most severely affected areas in the western part of Maui Island are still experiencing power outages and network disruptions, and the victims there are unable to log in to the website. Various official aid centers are located in the eastern part of Maui Island, nearly 20 kilometers away from the western disaster area. As for how to reach the aid center, disaster victims can only think of their own ways.
American media: The cost of rebuilding after a fire will be very high
The Maui Island fire in Hawaii not only caused serious casualties in the area, but also caused huge economic losses. According to American media reports on August 18th, the Maui Island fire in Hawaii caused over 2000 buildings to be damaged or destroyed, and building or repairing similar buildings during the reconstruction process is more expensive than in other states in the United States.
According to CNN on the 18th, Hawaii's limited construction resources, higher transportation and labor costs, as well as fewer mobile labor, will make the post Maui reconstruction work more challenging and expensive.
According to Moody's Analytics, the cost of doing business in Hawaii is about 30% higher than that in other parts of the United States. There is also data showing that compared to other states in the United States, the construction cost in Hawaii may be higher, about 44% higher, which may be a relatively conservative number. Major building material suppliers in Hawaii have stated that even before the fire broke out, the prices of wood and other building materials in Hawaii were generally 35% to 40% higher than in other states in the United States. The surge in demand for building materials during the reconstruction process may lead to shortages and further push up prices.
Toxic smoke and dust pollution difficult to solve the pressure on the Maui Island ecosystem
The pollution caused by the Maui Island fire in Hawaii, USA has also raised widespread concerns among the local population. Research has shown that the thick smoke and ash released by daily necessities and building materials during combustion contain thousands of hazardous chemicals. These harmful particles not only inhale into the human body with smoke and dust, but also deposit on the ground and ultimately be washed into the ocean, endangering marine life and ecosystems.
At present, the port of La Haina has been covered by burnt ships and leaked oil, and it is expected to take several months to clean up. Fires can also pollute drinking water, and plastic pipes can cause toxic chemicals to seep into the community's water supply system when they overheat. For several days, local people have only been able to drink bottled water, and it is still unclear what pollutants are contained in the local water supply system. Experts suggest that if mishandled, Maui Island will face another serious disaster.
