Authorities reported a surge in the death toll from swift wildfires on Maui island in Hawaii, reaching a minimum of 53 individuals on Thursday. One fire, which had imperiled the historical town of Lahaina, had achieved 80% containment earlier that day. Officials cautioned that the count of casualties is anticipated to rise as several fires persist on the island, prompting teams to scour charred regions. Hawaii Governor Josh Green labeled the situation as possibly the largest natural catastrophe in the state's history during a Thursday news briefing. He added that numerous residences had been obliterated, yet an exact tally of missing individuals remained elusive. Maui County Police Chief John Pelletier echoed the uncertainty, stating, "Honestly, we don't know," to the press.
