Those who have been displaced select wasnt of some of the governor had to say. Its select wasnt of some of the governor had to say. Governor had to say. Its a heartbreaking governor had to say. Its a heartbreaking day, governor had to say. Its a | heartbreaking day, without governor had to say. Its a i heartbreaking day, without a doubt. What we think that has been catastrophic but we tell you there is going to be a team effort to bring our state back. What we saw was the utter devastation of lahaina. We walked from end to end today as a team, mayor bessant for the county, Senator Schatz, federal level and myself, plus all of our teams and what we saw was likely the largest Natural Disaster in hawaii state history. You will recall in 1960 we had one year into statehood a tsunami that hit and took 61 lives on the big island. We are seeing loss of life here. As you know, the number has been rising and we will continue to see but we have extraordinary professionals working on the job. We also have seen many hundreds of homes destroyed. And thats going to take a great deal of time to recover from. But thats why we come together, become together to give comfort to people and, like i said, we will prevail, but we come together now to talk about the specifics of resources. This morning at 12 10 am, my team and i submitted the proposal to the federal government for president ial Disaster Declaration and exactly six hours later, we were honoured to receive in the affirmative that the federal government will be supporting our full recovery. Which means that there will be grants for individuals, from fema, there will be support for rental aid, there will be support for Small Businesses and this is just a small piece of whats going to be necessary. The financial aspects of the recovery will help blunt the loss of life because all of us will have a loved one here in maui that we know of that lost a house, that lost a friend. We talked to many people today, notjust at the shelter which was something to behold, and we appreciate all the volunteers like we appreciate the incredible work of the firefighters and police, but we talked to an old gentleman who had not seen anything like this ever in his life, a whole city. His neighbours have all lost their homes. His home was intact but he was in tears. This is a gentleman who doesnt quite easily. We saw young men on bicycles riding through lahaina. They also had much loss to share. They lost their houses. And they dont know where to turn. So what were telling you we will rebuild. Today, youre going to hear from notjust me as governor but going to see what Senator Schatz will be begin to work on and proposing for our aid. Also, we have experts from fema, of course our local leadership, our State Senator and mayor. But let me say this. A couple of things. Were going to need to house of people. It is our intent to initially seek 2000 rooms so that we can get housing for people. That will mean reaching out to all of our hotels and those in the community. We will ask people to rent those extra rooms or their 80 use or the ojala that they have on the property. Well created programmes that available ohana. They will be deeply subsidised in my opinion to make sure that for the many months the people need to find a home, they can have a home here. Adus. They are part of our economy and our community. Also call to action for people across the state if you have Additional Space in your home, if you have the capacity to take someone in from west maui, please do. We will find a way to connect you. Please consider bringing those people into your lives, especially if you have a space that you can otherwise rent. State will find resources because the federal government will be full support. President biden spoke to me directly and said they will be here with us all the way. Said they will be here with us all the way all the way. Lets recap the latest details all the way. Lets recap the latest details from all the way. Lets recap the latest details from hawaii, | latest details from hawaii, then. At least 53 people are now known to have died in the fires though further governor say the number will rise and billions of dollars of property are also expected to be destroyed. Governor green says as many as 1700 buildings have also been destroyed, 11,000 people. They are still without power and water in west maui. The fires began on tuesday and Officials Say none of these fires are 100 contained right now. Blaze spread quickly, fuelled by strong winds which were generated by a hurricane over the pacific ocean. Thousands of people are still in Emergency Shelters and visitors are being evacuated from the island. These are the latest pictures that we do have, showing smouldering ruins, total devastation. It is the worst destruction which can be seen on the island of maui where some Beachfront Areas has been completely levelled and us President Joe Biden has now declare the wildfires a major disaster and in doing so, it triggers the release of federal funds to help recovery effort. He spoke earlier. We have just approved a major Disaster Declaration for hawaii, which will get aid into the hands of the people desperately needing the help now. Theyve lost anyone whos lost a loved one, whose home has been damaged or destroyed, is going to get help immediately. And ive directed that we surge support to these brave firefighters and First Responders and Emergency Personnel working around the clock there, risking their lives. Lets take a look at what else is being done to help the situation in hawaii. Brain shuts moments ago said the Democratic Senate leader Chuck Schumer told him he would do all he can to support a supplementalfunding bill in supplemental funding bill in Congress Supplementalfunding bill in congress are lets take a look at what else is being done to help the situation in hawaii bbrian schatz. Brian schatz. Lets take a look at what else is being done to help the situation in hawaii. The federal Emergency ManagementAgency AdministratorDeanne Criswell will travel to the state to meet with officials. Earlier, fema announced that federal Disaster Assistance has been made available to supplement local Recovery Efforts. California is sending Search And Rescue teams to help Recovery Efforts thats according to the states governor, gavin newsom. And california officials do have a lot of experience in dealing with such blazes, including the 2018 camp fire that killed 85 people. And the main airport in maui has turned into an unofficial emergency shelter. An estimated 11,000 people are being flown out to other Hawaiian Islands or the us mainland. As you can see, that has led to scenes like this. The crowds have been calm but anxious as people try to fly to safer places. This is all happening as the extent of the devastation becomes clearer as our North America correspondent nomia iqbal reports. Much of the Hawaiian Island of maui is now scorched earth. A pilot can hardly believe what hes seeing. Oh, my gosh look at the harbour this looks like baghdad or something. The Historic Town of lahaina barely exists anymore. Since the fire began on tuesday, it has ripped through, fuelled by Hurricane Force winds, leaving burnt out cars on once busy streets and instead of historic buildings, there are Smoking Piles of rubble. Everybody still out here, its time to go for anyone still in the town, the message is clear get out. If anybody� s still here, the fire is on front street and it is time to go this Satellite Image from last month and yesterday lays bare the destruction. Its something youd see in a war zone. I was the last one off the dock when the firestorm came through the banyan trees and took everything with it. And ijust ran out to the beach and i ran south and ijust helped everybody i could along the way. Still got dead bodies in the water, floating, and on the sea wall. Theyve been sitting there since last night. Weve been pulling people out since last night, trying to save peoples lives, and i feel like were not getting the help we need. The us military has now mobilised as it tries desperately to suppress the fires over the island. A state nicknamed � the paradise of the pacific� is now paradise lost. The Us Coast Guard has been working to rescue people off the coast of the town of lahaina after manyjumped into the water to escape the burning flames. They say a total of 17 people have been saved from the water. Another a0 survivors have been found on shore and brought to safety by boat crews. The coast guard says Search Efforts have covered 689 square nautical miles, which isjust over 2,000 square kilometres. Now, the weather has been very dry in hawaii recently with isolated fires breaking out. However, as we mentioned earlier, a seemingly benign hurricane in the Eastern Pacific has escalated the situation. Ben rich from bbc weather explains. The weather on its own rarely causes wildfires but it can bring conditions that make them more likely and help to fan the flames, which is exactly whats happened in hawaii. Its been very, very dry here of late and then, passing to the south, weve had this major hurricane, hurricane dora. Now, the centre of the storm has stayed well away from hawaii but its been squashing up against this big area of High Pressure and that squeezed between the two has generated some very strong winds, gusting up to 67 mph. But with that storm now drifting away westwards, the winds are easing. It is going to stay quite breezy over the next few days but not windy as it has been. However, apart from just the odd passing shower, it is going to remain largely dry. Doesnt have been displaced on maui, waiting to safely return to their homes and these are the images the bbc has seen of the images the bbc has seen of the maui War Memorial Stadium which has been Housing Scores of evacuees. Long lines and people settling in on Air Mattresses and temporary bedding in a crowded gymnasium thatis bedding in a crowded gymnasium that is overflowing. Live now to bbc digital reporter max mensah who is in hawaii. I understand you arrived fairly recently so what are you seeing there. Matza, i came into the co airport this morning which is quite full and people trying to get out. Quite full and people trying to net out. ,. , quite full and people trying to net out. ,. , quite full and people trying to netout. ,. ,. , get out. Dozens have already made about get out. Dozens have already made about but get out. Dozens have already made about but there get out. Dozens have already made about but there are get out. Dozens have already| made about but there are still hundreds of people trying to find any way to the other islands or to the mainland. I spoke to one mother of three with herfamily and spoke to one mother of three with her family and who jumped into the harbour of lahaina to escape the flames. She was battered against the rocks, got cuts all over her legs and eventually they had to flee after a firefighter found them running through the flames and they got horribly burned and now they are heading home to kansas but other people who have had close calls, turned around, leaving everything behind, all of their medication, laptops, clothing. One man i met, he arrived at the shelter telling me that he had spent the last two nights inaudible with his cuts with only the clothes on his back. Shocking testimony there. And what about what people actually need when they are coming to the shelter and how is the Shelter Being Run because as i understand it in some of these shelters, a lot of volunteers of course taking part and really a sense of all Hands On Deck here. Really a sense of all Hands On Deck here deck here. Thats right, the ymca has deck here. Thats right, the ymca has been deck here. Thats right, the ymca has been helping deck here. Thats right, the j ymca has been helping and deck here. Thats right, the ymca has been helping and lots of others, government agencies, tons of volunteers who are coming, dropping off fruit, lots of freshly cut fruit, saw a man with a bunch of bananas over his shoulder. Another traditional hawaiian treats like shaved ice and offering acupuncture and massage but people do have to bring their own bedding and many people dont have that so there is also charitable clothing and pillows, sheets and anything people need, they are sleeping on Air Mattresses that you can see behind me, there are cots. But really, the volunteer effort is just very grassroots, it seems, so far. Its not very organised. Earlier here today the governor arrived and i was told that oprah winfrey, one of the most Famous Maui Residence was here as well meeting the people. But yeah, so far, it does not seem very co ordinated but they have quite a lot of supplies. But they have quite a lot of sunplies but they have quite a lot of su lies. ,. ,. ,. , supplies. You have to wonder lookin supplies. You have to wonder looking at supplies. You have to wonder looking at the supplies. You have to wonder looking at the scene supplies. You have to wonder looking at the scene is supplies. You have to wonder| looking at the scene is behind you, max, people who have fled and lost so much, what is the mood where you are right now . Well, some people tell me that theyre trying to get their mind off of things and dont want to follow the latest updates from lahaina a place where many of them have lived for decades. One man described seeing dead bodies floating in the harbor. He didnt want to talk about it, understandably. So its kind of a variety of emotions. I would say that some people are trying to stay cheerful. And others are trying to just stave off depression. And, max, as you mentioned there, you were also at the airport earlier speaking to people. What did they tell you . Well, besides the mother that escape the Flames Byjumping into the harbor, eventually being rescued by a firefighter, i also spoke to a couple from san diego who were stuck in traffic as they watched the cloud of wildfire smoke rise in front of them. On their way back to their condo and realized we have to turnaround and drive 180 degrees in the other direction from here. Yeah, i mean, i spoke to quite a few people who were, frankly, terrified. And never had such a close brush with death. I never had such a close brush with death. Never had such a close brush with death. , with death. I can well imagine. And in terms with death. I can well imagine. And in terms of with death. I can well imagine. And in terms of the with death. I can well imagine. And in terms of the challenge l and in terms of the challenge then for authorities in hawaii, do you get the sense that on one hand, theyre having to deal with this local scale of devastation and what their communities are going through . Whilst also being cogniscent that this is a spot that attracts so many tourists and they also have to try and help coordinate efforts to evacuate them . ,. , � them . Yeah. So far, id say theres been them . Yeah. So far, id say theres been a them . Yeah. So far, id say theres been a big them . Yeah. So far, id say theres been a big divide i theres been a big divide between the shelters and the airport. The airport is, of course, all visitors. And the shelters are all local, who dont have plans to leave. And so, they need much more, of course, from the authorities. Most of the official response so far is still fighting the fires. There was a bit of rain today, which gave them a little bit of a reprieve. And the winds have died down allowing them to do helicopter and water drops, increasingly. But really, there hasnt been a lot of official presence at the shelters. Its mostly alljust volunteer run, because there are hundreds of firefighters, police officers, military personnel, who are still in the hills where fire is ongoing. And, max, as we were just hear thering in the press conference, the governor of the state saying that this is likely this is the largest disaster that the state of hawaii has ever encountered. Is there any sense about how long it will take for the state to recover from Something Like this . Something which appears so utterly devastating . fine this . Something which appears so utterly devastating . One man the man so utterly devastating . One man the man who so utterly devastating . One man the man who found so utterly devastating . One man the man who found the so utterly devastating . One man the man who found the dead i the man who found the dead bodies in Lahaina Harbor he predicted it will take quite a long time. Why . Of course, theres a lot of islands. And they need to import everything, including lumber. So all of the lumber that will be needed to be to are build the time will probably have to be shipped, probably have to be shipped, probably from the us mainland. That will take a while. And if theyre going to try to rebuild in the same historic kind of preservation way. Lahaina is a town that dates back beyond the 17005. I think that it town that dates back beyond the 1700s. I think that it dates back centuries. So if theyre going to try to restore some of the historical presence of the town, its going to take some time. A , town, its going to take some time. A,. , time. Max, ust one thing i did want to time. Max, just one thing i did want to touch time. Max, just one thing i did want to touch on time. Max, just one thing i did want to touch on was time. Max, just one thing i did want to touch on wasjust want to touch on was just infrastructure in hawaii. And the fact that in some parts, it is more sparse. Just one main road in some parts. Has that also complicated Response Efforts as well in terms of getting teams to where they need to be . Getting people out . The main road to lahaina is closed, except leaving. If youre fleeing, you could be on that road. But only First Responders are able to use it to get in. Some of the roads go up to get in. Some of the roads go up to the mountains. Some of them hug the coastline. But basically, all of them are twisty and windy and small. And its difficult to access, for sure. Which is why theyre using so many helicopters. Ive heard stories of Fire Truck Thatis heard stories of fire truck that is have burned up because they were unable to quickly getaway from the flames. When i was at the horizon store earlier, there was a couple of parents buying a phone for their firefighter son who had lost his phone there. There are huge challenges here in maui. Beaches. Its complex. Max. Beaches. Its complex. Max matza there, beaches. Its complex. Max matza there, ssc beaches. Its complex. Max matza there, bbc digital. Matza there, bbc digital reporter there on the ground in hawaii. Thank you so much for bringing us up to date with the very challenging situation on the ground. Thank you for your reporting. Thank you. Fema says that Disaster Assistance is now available to help communities in hawaii and theyre looking with state and local partners there. For more information please head to our website. Our team has a live page up with the latest on the hawaii wildfires. This page has a breakdown of the latest facts from officials, as well as detailed timeline of events leading up to the wildfires. Around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. Lets look at some other news now. Northern irelands police chief has said he is deeply sorry about two Data Breaches revealing the identities of thousands of his officers and staff. Police unions say their members are scared of the potential risk to their safety. Members of militant groups in Northern Ireland say theyve acquired private details of some officers but those claims have not been verified. The Us Supreme Court has blocked a settlement that would protect the owners of drug maker Purdue Pharma from being sued for deaths caused by opioids. Under the deal, the Sackler Family would have been shielded from legal liability. Overdoses of such painkillers are blamed for Tens Of Thousands of deaths across the us each year. Donald trump and his personal aide have pleaded not guilty to more charges related to Government Documents at the former president s florida home, mar a lago. The two men and a third aide are accused of conspiring to conceal Surveillance Footage at mr trumps Mar A Lago Resort from the fbi. The former president and mr nauta had already pleaded not guilty to previous charges. Youre live with bbc news. The ivory coast says itll send about 1,000 troops to join an International Force thats been put on stand by to intervene in niger. The announcement came after an Emergency Meeting of the west African Regional bloc, ecowas, decided to put its troops on alert. Nigers elected president , mohamed bazoum, was ousted in a coup last month. Ecowas leaders says the use of force will be a last resort. Our correspondent chris ewoker filed this report. The Heads Of State have taken the position to direct the i willization of the stand by force. Theyve also directed the military authorities in the subregion to deploy the stand by force of the community. As to the financing, that is. That has been discussed and appropriate measures are being taken. Thank you. The decision was unexpected. Including the Military Intervention in niger had heightened tension. A lot of people were afraid and were worried that this time round, ecowas would offer what many people see as the carrot and stick approach of diplomacy, dialogue. But it steams that this time around, the ecowas leaders are planning to send a message that the coup in any of the member countries would no longer be acceptable. Even though they have ordered the activation of the Ecowas Stand By force, it is not yet clear how that force is going to work when the activation is taking place. What is going to be the mode of operation . What many people are now expecting is how this vaccination will affect the stability of the this activity will affect the stability of the subregion. Sri lanka now is betting its future on tourism. The country was brought to its knees just a year ago by the worst economic crisis in its independent history. Archana shukla reports. The tide has begun to turn in sri lanka. The pristine beaches are buzzing again with surfers waiting to watch the perfect wave. In this town on the eastern coast of sri lanka, the peak of the economic crisis coincides with their main tourist season, hitting local businesses hard. And this Surfing Destination is still picking up the pieces. Rishanta, a surfing instructor, is back to giving daily lessons to tourist. A respite from last year, but the economic crisis forced him into fishing to support his family. But he says a full recovery is still distant. A full recovery is still distant. ,. ,. Distant. Due to the price change. Distant. Due to the price change. We distant. Due to the price change, we struggling l distant. Due to the price j change, we struggling a distant. Due to the price change, we struggling a lot. Of course, we have to put the price up for the plus and for the accommodation, but still, we pay quite a lot of money for the Electricity Bill and you know, for other basic needs. Crowded beaches and busy hotels are promising signs for sri lankas Tourist Trade its biggest foreign currency earner. Tourism revenues are up 30 from last year. Earner. Tourism revenues are up 3096 from last year. Earner. Tourism revenues are up 3096 from last year. When i came last year. 3096 from last year. When i came last year. There 3096 from last year. When i came last year, there were 3096 from last year. When i came last year, there were a 3096 from last year. When i came last year, there were a few last year, there were a few shops open. And there were almost no people. To see now like the difference, its amazing. Like, so many new places opened up and the business is coming back. And many tourists are coming back. Its a good atmosphere now. Some of the bigger players are more optimistic about navigating the recovery. The recovery so navigating the recovery. The recovery so far navigating the recovery. The recovery so far is navigating the recovery. Tue recovery so far is quite magicalfor recovery so far is quite magical for us. Recovery so far is quite magicalfor us. So the emirates, the qatars, the singapore airlines, india, theyre coming back and increasing tourism to the country, along with our national carrier, sri lanka. However, very high cost of borrowing and a migration of the countrys skilled workers, from chefs to House Keeping staff, remains a major worry. From chefs to House Keeping staff, remains a majorworry. I staff, remains a major worry. I cant see a lot of new development happening, construction happening, until the cost of borrowing comes down. Most of our chefs are now in australia and new zealand and canada. So our biggest losses were in the kitchen. Then we lost engineering staff. We lost financial staff. We lost financial staff. Many sa the We Lost Financial staff. Many say the crisis We Lost Financial staff. Many say the crisis has We Lost Financial staff. Many say the crisis has set We Lost Financial staff. Many say the crisis has set the say the crisis has set the country back by five years, leaving behind significant gaps which will take some time to be filled again. Youre watching bbc news. From washington dc, thank you for your company. Ill have more for you at the top of the hour. Dojoin me thenif top of the hour. Dojoin me then if you can. Goodbye for now. Good morning. We finally got there. On thursday, we had some much awaited Summer Sunshine and warmth. Fairly widespread across the country, but temperatures peaked just over 28 degrees. However, there was quite a lot of cloud around, and in Northern Ireland by the end of the afternoon, some threatening looking skies. And thats because this Frontal System moving in and is bringing some rain as we speak. That is moving its way steadily north and east, some heavy bursts of rumble of thunder mixed in there as it pushes its way across scotland. The trailing tail of that Frontal System, just a band of cloud, the odd spot or two of Nuisance Rain into the south east. But it will be an incredibly mild, muggy night. So a very humid start to our friday morning. And there will be some sunshine. Early Morning Cloud breaking off across south east england, some sunny spells coming through. And with that south westerly flow, we continue to drag in the risk of a few showers, chiefly out to the west. The Northern Isles will stay quite wet and disappointing in terms of the feel of the weather, with only a high expected of 15 degrees. But elsewhere, with the sunshine, and with fewer showers in eastern england, we may well see highs of 27 once again. Now, as we move into the weekend, there is a risk of some showers through friday night into the early hours of saturday morning in the south east. And then this area of low pressure is going to just tuck itself into the far north west of the country. So showers more frequent, most widespread the further north and west you are. Some of those will push a little further inland, but sheltered eastern england, perhaps seeing the driest of the weather on saturday. And as a result, the warmest of the weather, 26 celsius is still 75 fahrenheit. Almost a Repeat Performance as we go into sunday. Again, that low not moving very far. So most frequent showers to the north west. There will be some pushing their way across england and wales. And we need to keep an eye on some rain potentially moving into the south west by the end of sunday. Top temperatures generally 18 23 degrees. So that Frontal System potentially running along the south. And then as we move into tuesday and wednesday, an area of High Pressure is set to build. So we could see a little more in the way of showery weather to begin our new working week. But the warmth and dry weather may well return as we move to the end of the week and next weekend. Voiceover this is bbc news. Well have the headlines and all the main news stories for you at the top of the hour, straight after this programme. Come on out, you big coward come on out it was an earthquake of a ruling. Hellfire for you last summer, millions of americans were blocked from accessing a constitutional right. Murder . An abortion. A year on, the dust has far from settled, and no more so than in the south. Weve travelled thousands of miles across two very different states. Alabama has one of the strictest Abortion Bans in the us. Neighbouring florida has become a Destination State for the procedure. Thank you very much . A reputation its governor and now president ial nominee wants to undo. Weve spoken to people on either side of this divisive debate. I would like to see an outright ban of abortion in america. It makes me angry. It makes me sick to my stomach that, on my watch, this