Floyd Mayweather, the boxing legend, has assisted nearly 70 families in fleeing Maui after a fire ravaged the Hawaiian island last week. Mayweather reportedly flew 68 families from Maui to Honolulu, the Hawaiian capital located 104 miles away, according to TMZ. He has been providing them with hotel rooms for several weeks and is also providing them with food and clothing.
The Maui fire that erupted in the historic town of Lahaina on Tuesday killed 96 people, making it the deadliest U.S. fire in 100 years. According to the BBC, the fires grew worse due to a dry summer and strong gusts from a passing hurricane. In the next days, the death toll is projected to grow. The United States Coast Guard reported rescuing around 15 people who had to flee the fires by jumping into the Pacific Ocean.
Authorities are still looking for further victims, while hundreds of others have sought refuge in shelters across Maui. “All we can do is wait and support those who are still alive.” “Our focus now is to reunite people as soon as possible, to get them housing and health care, and then to rebuild,” Hawaii Governor Josh Green said on Saturday.
Oprah Winfrey, who has property on Maui, also contributed to relief efforts by donating pillows, diapers, and shampoo bottles to individuals sheltering at the War Memorial Stadium, according to the Daily Mail.