US President Joe Biden responded to the devastating Hawaii wildfires that resulted in the loss of over 80 lives on the island of Maui. After facing criticism for not addressing the situation earlier and spending time on the beach, Biden finally acknowledged the tragedy in his speech on Tuesday, as reported by The New York Post.
In his address, Biden began by acknowledging his earlier omission and stated, “I apologize because I try very hard to keep my speeches between 15 and 18 minutes, but I got to talk a little bit about Hawaii,” according to NYP reports. He highlighted the steps taken by the US government to manage the wildfire situation, including providing federal assistance to victims, including a one-time grant of $700 from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Biden also mentioned the collaborative efforts of the Coast Guard, Navy, and Army helicopters in supporting search and rescue operations, as well as fire suppression efforts on the islands. However, he confused the names of the islands, referring to the Big Island, known as Hawaii, and Maui, the most affected island.
The US President assured that he and his wife Jill Biden will visit Hawaii to assess the situation but did not provide a specific date for the visit. Hawaii Governor Josh Green revealed that the confirmed death toll from the Maui wildfires had risen to 89, making it the deadliest wildfire incident in over a century in the United States. He expressed that the death toll is expected to increase further, and many victims were positively identified. The wildfires have also resulted in the destruction or damage of approximately 2,200 structures in West Maui, with 86 percent of them being residential buildings.
The Hawaii Tourism Authority reported that around 46,000 residents and visitors have evacuated from West Maui’s Kahului Airport since the wildfires started, causing devastation in the historic resort city of Lahaina. The situation remains a significant challenge, with efforts underway to manage the aftermath and provide support to those affected.