Death toll from Maui wildfires rises to 89

The Maui wildfires have claimed at least 89 lives, Hawaii Gov. Josh Green (D) said Saturday afternoon local time, making them the deadliest U.S. wildfires in the past 100 years. He said the blaze was the result of a never-before-seen confluence of climate-related conditions and warned that it would take a long time for tourism and the community of West Maui to recover. The death toll is expected to rise, and Maui’s police chief made a plea for the public’s patience in identifying victims, saying some remains are so badly damaged that they disintegrate when being picked up. “Every one of these 89 [victims] are John and Jane Does,” John Pelletier said.