The death toll from forest fires on the island of Maui, in the US state of Hawaii, has risen to 93.
Maui Island authorities said on their website that the death toll from forest fires on the island has risen to 93, noting that the number is likely to increase, as search teams are still combing, with the help of trained dogs, the ruins of the coastal town of Lahaina.
"The number of victims will continue to rise, as more victims are found," Hawaii Governor Josh Green told a news conference.
On the other hand, the Federal Emergency Management Agency said that it is estimated that the cost of rebuilding Lahaina is about $5.5 billion, given the damage or destruction of more than 2,200 buildings and the burning of more than 2,100 acres.
Last Thursday, US President Joe Biden described the Hawaii fires as a natural disaster, announcing federal aid to the island of Maui with the aim of financing relief work, immediate shelter, and reconstruction efforts.
The current fires on the island of Maui are the most deadly wildfires in the United States since 1918, when fires in Cloquet, Minnesota, and Wisconsin claimed the lives of 453 people.
Source: National Iraqi News Agency