Xinhua News Agency reporter visits the wildfire stricken area of Lahai, Maui Island, Hawaii | Wildfire | Reporter
After the wildfire disaster, the famous tourist town of La Haina on Maui Island in Hawaii, USA, was still filled with a burnt smell on August 20th. Everywhere are charred ruins and broken walls, and the areas where the fire occurred have been isolated by obstacles such as barbed wire. The entrances and exits are strictly controlled by military and police, and some charitable organization personnel are busy moving materials in relatively intact areas of the building.
The residence and clothing store of local resident Deborah are located in one of the earlier areas in Lahaina town that were engulfed by the fire. At noon on the 20th, she recalled to reporters, "When thick smoke rolled in the distance, my neighbors and I stood at the door, and no one knew what exactly happened, nor did anyone notify us."
With the smoke and fire getting closer and closer, she hurriedly packed up two small bags and drove to the seaside, but the streets were already in chaos, and vehicles were blocked in the narrow streets. Deborah had to abandon the car and flee.
"I have lost my car, my residence, my shop, and everything." Deborah's achievements of the past 11 years of hard work were set on fire in one day.
![Xinhua News Agency reporter visits the wildfire stricken area of Lahai, Maui Island, Hawaii | Wildfire | Reporter](https://a5qu.com/upload/images/07fd84203f4e816b8a3929a40fa84e03.jpg)
This is a photo taken on August 14th in La Haina, Maui Island, Hawaii, USA, of a building and car wreckage destroyed by a wildfire. Shen Jizhong
Deborah said she has submitted a disaster relief assistance application to the Federal Emergency Management Agency of the United States, but it has been pending approval and she urgently looks forward to the application being approved as soon as possible.
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. Lahaina Town is the most severely damaged area this time. As of the 20th, although the search has covered about 85% of the wildfire affected areas, Hawaii Governor Green said that there are still over 1000 people on the missing list, and the search may continue for several weeks.
This is a shelter filmed on August 15th in Maui County, Hawaii, USA. Shen Jizhong
![Xinhua News Agency reporter visits the wildfire stricken area of Lahai, Maui Island, Hawaii | Wildfire | Reporter](https://a5qu.com/upload/images/1a0a89e7cc5b3f06369ea86bc27d806b.jpg)
According to US media reports, residents of La Haina have expressed doubts and dissatisfaction about their lack of warning information, unresponsive alarm systems, and slow government response to the disaster. After the disaster response work was widely questioned, Herman Andaya, the head of the emergency management agency in Maoi County, announced his resignation on health grounds on the 17th.
Deborah said that power system safety is also one of the controversial points of this wildfire disaster. She said that due to the possibility of a storm approaching in the near future, disaster victims urgently hope that relevant institutions can accelerate their assistance and repair efforts.