AssetID: 52976486
Headline: UNCAPTIONED: Investors Looking to Profit on Grief-Stricken Survivors of Maui Wildfires
Caption: Investors Looking to Profit on Grief-Stricken Survivors of Maui Wildfires. 'The Independent' reports that thousands of residents of Lahaina, Hawaii, have been left without shelter after fast-moving fires broke out in Maui. Nearly 80% of the structures in the town of Lahaina were either damaged or totally destroyed. Scores of residents are mourning the loss of loved ones who had been unable to escape the fires as they engulfed entire neighborhoods. 'The Independent' reports that residents have now been forced to defend what little they have left from investors and realtors looking to capitalize on the disaster. Kako'o Haleakala, an environmental nonprofit organization, was just one of many that exposed investors efforts to profit from grief-stricken victims of the wildfires. 'The Independent' reports that Hawaii governor Josh Green has promised that investors will not be allowed to take land. Yet concerns remain that selling off land will become inevitable due to the high cost of building in Maui and inadequate funds from the federal government for rebuilding. Residents have reportedly been encouraged to report the names of realtors and investors attempting to purchase land. Both residents and activists have urgently called on the government to issue a land block to prevent those looking to capitalize from land grabbing. Over 2,000 structures were burned in Lahaina alone, while the governor has estimated that rebuilding will cost $5 billion. THIS VIDEO MUST NOT BE EDITED FOR LENGTH TO COMBINE WITH OTHER CONTENT
Keywords: Investors,looking to profit,grief-stricken,survivors,Maui,wildfires,Hawaii,shelter,homes,destroyed,neighbourhood,rebuild,lives,families,locals,Lahaina
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