80 People Confirmed Dead By Wildfires In Hawaiian Island of Maui

Eighty people have now been confirmed to have been killed by wildfires on the Hawaiian island of Maui, officials say.

There are fears the numbers will rise further, as hundreds are still uncontactable.

Firefighters have been trying to contain fires in several areas, including the historic town of Lahaina which has been utterly devastated.

Hawaii’s attorney general has announced a “comprehensive review” into how the authorities responded to the wildfires.

It comes as questions mount over whether officials warned residents fast enough.

On the Honoapiilani Highway – one of the only available routes into Lahaina – cars sat bumper-to-bumper, with families looking tired and worried alongside trucks piled high with supplies, water, fuel, nappies and toilet paper.

But within hours after opening, the road was shut to everyone but emergency services.

Authorities told the BBC that police had been called in to address a “situation” but would not elaborate.

Evacuated Lahaina residents later said they believed their homes had been struck by looting, though this was not confirmed by police.

Still, for hours after the closure, families sat in a mile-long line.

Earlier, Governor Josh Green had warned residents would be greeted by “destruction like they’ve not ever seen in their lives”.

And for many of Lahaina’s evacuees, that waiting devastation is still too much to see.

In Paukukalo, a coastal neighbourhood east of Lahaina, 23 stranded members of the Tacderan family gathered with relatives to take stock of the loss.