80 percent of Hawaii wildfires contained
The search for survivors continues on the Hawaiian island of Maui, where the flames are being blamed for more than 50 deaths.
Transcript
00:00 from above a haunting view of now leveled lots across Maui. Unprecedented
00:06 wildfires leaving a once colorful community scorched gray and near barren.
00:11 There are no more buildings, cars are still in the road, some with doors open
00:16 indicating people had to run and what's left is very little of what it used to
00:22 be. Officials estimate upwards of 1,000 structures, homes, businesses, stores and
00:28 more have been lost. In Lahaina, once the Hawaiian Kingdom's capital city,
00:34 centuries-old sites have burned to the ground and though some branches of this
00:39 beloved 150 year old banyan tree have burned, it's still standing. President
00:45 Biden announcing he's approved a major disaster declaration for Hawaii, opening
00:50 up federal resources to help victims recover. Anyone who's lost a loved one
00:54 whose home has been damaged or destroyed is going to get help immediately. The
01:00 president also mobilizing US military assets to aid Hawaii's first responders
01:05 including more than 130 National Guardsmen and military aircraft such as
01:11 Chinook and Black Hawk helicopters to help with the firefight and search and
01:16 rescue operations. The US Coast Guard says it rescued at least 57 people who
01:21 dove into the ocean to escape the fire. At one point it seemed like I might
01:26 drown. Conditions across Maui remain treacherous with small fires still
01:34 reported and phone service power and water largely offline. This is going to
01:39 be a long period of recovery but we will rebuild. And Maui is now working to find
01:47 2,000 rooms to house displaced residents and at the airport hundreds are holed up
01:53 sleeping on floors and waiting for flights off the island. Justin Finch, ABC
01:59 News, Washington. Meantime, Hauchan Community Blood Bank is encouraging
02:04 everyone who donates platelets and plasma to give in support of the
02:10 victims in Hawaii. Maui officials say the number of burn victims is going up as
02:15 well as those in critical condition. Now with your help, Hauchan is planning to
02:18 send platelets and plasma to Hawaiian hospitals immediately. For more
02:22 information on how you can help, go to our website, Turn to 23 dot com.