Key takeaways:
- Maui County officials have issued an unsafe water advisory for residents of Lahaina and Upper Kula due to potential contamination from the recent wildfire.
- The wildfire is believed to have been caused by a lightning strike, and has destroyed a number of water structures in the area.
- Residents of Lahaina and Upper Kula are advised to continue to follow the unsafe water advisory until further notice.
Maui County officials have issued an unsafe water advisory for residents of Lahaina and Upper Kula, warning them not to drink or boil tap water due to potential contamination from the recent wildfire. The fire, which swept through the picturesque town of Lahaina this week, has now become the deadliest U.S. wildfire of the past century, with 93 confirmed deaths.
Hawaii Governor Josh Green toured the devastation on Lahaina’s Front Street on Saturday, accompanied by representatives from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The Department of Water Supply said the unsafe water notice remained in effect out of an “abundance of caution” pending testing in those areas.
The wildfire is believed to have been caused by a lightning strike, and has destroyed a number of water structures in the area. County officials have warned that harmful contaminants, including benzene and other volatile organic chemicals, may have entered the Lahaina water system.
The death toll from the fires has surpassed the toll of the 2018 Camp Fire in Northern California, which left 85 dead and destroyed the town of Paradise. Governor Green has said that operations Saturday will focus on “the loss of life” as the county continues to assess the damage.
Residents of Lahaina and Upper Kula are advised to continue to follow the unsafe water advisory until further notice. The Department of Water Supply is working to restore the water supply and ensure the safety of the water in the area.
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