MADRID, 9 Ago. (EUROPA PRESS) –
At least six people have died as a result of the serious forest fires affecting the US archipelago of Hawaii, especially the island of Maui, according to local authorities, who have declared an emergency and requested the deployment of the National Guard to try to contain the spread. emergency.
The mayor of Maui County, Richard T. Bissen Jr., has confirmed a first balance of six deaths, without ruling out that the number may continue to increase. “Our main objective right now is to save lives”, this leader has proclaimed, while the population tries to flee with great difficulty from the flames.
More than 2,100 people have landed in shelters set up for displaced persons, while the Coast Guard has indicated that some citizens have chosen to go out to sea to escape the fires, according to NBC News. The fires affect the island of Maui but also that of Hawaii, where for now there are no known fatalities.
The governor of the state, Josh Green, has lamented the “terrible disaster”, which he has linked to hurricane winds and drought, and has described the work of the emergency services as “heroic”, thanks to which there are no more victims. In a statement, he has announced that he will request a formal disaster declaration from President Joe Biden in the coming days, “once the magnitude of the damage is known” from the fires.
