US President Joe Biden visited survivors of the Maui wildfires in Lahaina on Monday. During a 13-minute speech, Biden expressed empathy for their situation, sharing his own experience of a fire damaging his Delaware home in 2004. He thanked firefighters who saved his family.

The Maui wildfires, the deadliest in a century, claimed over 114 lives on August 8. Criticized for a slow response, Biden faced backlash for drawing a comparison between his experience and the devastating wildfire. Local anger was also directed at Maui officials for not sounding alarms at the fire's start.

Despite concerns of a chilly reception, Biden, accompanied by First Lady Jill Biden, walked through Lahaina's ruins with Hawaii's Governor Josh Green. They surveyed the damage from Marine One, the presidential helicopter. Lahaina, once vibrant and tourist-friendly, is now a scene of destruction, with homes reduced to ruins.

Abandoned cars along roads bear witness to residents' desperate flight from the flames. The community's resilience and government support offer hope for recovery. Despite the challenges, Lahaina will rebuild and regain its charm.