Maui residents were robbed at gunpoint and their belongings stolen, according to new reports, amidst, wildfires that raided the island, leaving thousands displaced and 96 dead as the police search for more bodies.
Food is no longer a luxury and as rescue authorities have tried to regulate food for the affected persons, some have resulted in stealing and robbing others.
The residents of Lahaina have complained that the government has abandoned them without supplies since they can not work.
An Oregon resident told the outlet that their relative flew into Maui to donate water, food, household items, and clothing, only to be robbed at gunpoint soon after his arrival.
Matt Robb, co-owner of a bar in Lahaina reported, “There’s some police presence. There’s some small military presence. But at night, people are being robbed at gunpoint.”
“I mean, they’re going through houses — and then by day, it’s hunky dory. So where is the support? I don’t think our government and our leaders, at this point, know how to handle this or what to do.”
Barrett Procell, a Lahaina resident who lost his home to the fire did not blame the thieves. He said:
“When your children and [you] are here starving after almost burning to death and the police won’t let people drive in to give you necessities, you may turn to desperate measures.”
“It is unfortunate people are turning to looting right now, but it’s about helping them and not villainizing them.”
A mobile refrigerated morgue was rushed to Lahaina on Monday to keep bodies cool as the death toll on Maui hit 96 — and is only expected to rise.
Maui Police Chief John Pelletier said the fire had been so significant that each recovered body will have to be identified through DNA testing.
