Maui Wildfire Death Toll Nearing 100 as Rescuers Expect Casualties To Increase

The Maui wildfire death toll has risen to 93, marking the devastating wildfires as the deadliest in modern US history, according to the Independent.

The island's blazes have become the country's deadliest wildfires in terms of casualties in over a century.

Authorities caution that locating and identifying the deceased is still in its early stages. Crews equipped with cadaver dogs have covered a mere three percent of the search area.

While surveying the devastation in Lahaina, Governor Josh Green stated on Saturday that this event will undoubtedly stand as the most severe natural disaster Hawaii has ever encountered.

Surpassing the toll of the 2018 Camp Fire in northern California, which claimed 85 lives and decimated the town of Paradise, the newly reported death count is a grim reminder of the scale of the tragedy.

Two other fires have been reported on the island - one in the Kihei area in south Maui and the other in the mountainous inland communities called Upcountry.

Fortunately, no fatalities have been reported in connection with these fires thus far.

Many survivors of the fires recount not receiving timely warnings or alerts, discovering their peril only upon witnessing flames or hearing explosions.

Though officials did send out alerts, widespread power and cellular outages likely hindered their dissemination.

Hawaii Officials Advice Tourists Not to Travel to Maui

In response to the devastating Maui wildfire, Hawaii officials have strongly advised tourists to avoid traveling to the island, AP reports.

Several hotels prepare to accommodate evacuees and first responders as the island grapples with the wildfire that obliterated a historic town.

Around 46,000 residents and visitors have already departed from Kahului Airport in West Maui since the extent of the damage in Lahaina became evident last Wednesday, according to the Hawaii Tourism Authority.

The agency expressed the need for combined efforts from federal, state, and county governments, the local West Maui community, and the travel industry to focus on recovering those forced to evacuate their residences and businesses.

Tourists are encouraged to explore Hawaii's other islands for their travel plans.

Governor Green outlined plans to make 500 hotel rooms available for displaced locals and an additional 500 for Federal Emergency Management Agency workers.

Some hotels will continue regular operations to sustain local employment and the economy.

The state is in discussions with Airbnb to provide rental homes for residents, aiming for three- to nine-month durations for those who lost their homes.

Maui Wildfire Death Toll Expected to Rise, Says Governor

"It's going to rise," Governor Green while touring the devastation on historic Front Street in Lahaina, remarked on the grim outlook of the rising Maui wildfire death toll, CBS noted.

He emphasized that Hawaii is confronting its worst-ever natural disaster, and the immediate focus is on supporting survivors, providing shelter and healthcare, and eventually embarking on the rebuilding process.

As the island grapples with increasing casualties, concerns arise about the capacity of morgues to handle the growing number of victims.

Maui's limited resources include a solitary hospital and three mortuaries. FEMA, currently present with 150 personnel on-site, coordinates search and rescue efforts and preliminary assessments of affected areas.

Emergency managers on the island continue to evaluate the extent of the Maui wildfire destruction, particularly in Lahaina's central region.

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Written by: Bert Hoover

WATCH: Rising death toll makes Maui wildfires deadliest in US history | GMA - From ABC News