Joe Biden vows to visit Hawaii soon amid criticism

US President Joe Biden says helium volition question to Hawaii "as soon arsenic helium can" amid disapproval of his effect to the island's deadly wildfires.

Speaking successful Milwaukee connected Tuesday, Mr Biden said helium wanted to guarantee that the radical successful the authorities had "everything they need".

Nearly 100 radical person truthful acold been confirmed dormant successful the fires.

Hawaii residents person complained astir the gait of the national government's effect to the disaster.

While astatine Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, implicit the weekend, Mr Biden was asked by a newsman astir the rising decease toll successful Hawaii, and responded: "No comment."

The president said connected Tuesday helium hadn't yet visited due to the fact that of concerns that doing truthful would divert resources and attraction from the humanitarian response. Jill Biden volition travel him to Hawaii, helium said.

"I don't privation to get successful the way. I've been to excessively galore catastrophe areas," Mr Biden said. "I privation to beryllium definite we don't disrupt ongoing betterment efforts."

Over 500 national exigency unit person truthful acold been dispatched to assistance with alleviation efforts, including 150 hunt and rescue specialists.

Additional unit are being sent to Maui to assistance those already connected the ground, Mr Biden added.

He said that "all disposable national assets" successful the portion volition beryllium utilized for betterment efforts, including the US subject and Coast Guard.

"It's painstaking work. It takes clip and it's nervus wracking," the president said.

The US Small Business Administration has besides begun offering low-interest catastrophe loans to assistance section residents rebuild.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema) has approved one-time payments of $700 per household to assistance with contiguous needs successful the aftermath of the disaster.

"Every plus they request volition beryllium determination for them," said Mr Biden. "And we'll beryllium determination successful Maui arsenic agelong arsenic it takes."

Officials successful Hawaii person said they expect the decease toll to emergence successful the coming days arsenic much bodies are recovered from the worst deed parts of Maui.

On Monday, Governor Josh Green said that lone 25% of the affected country had been decently searched for quality remains.

On the crushed successful Maui, galore residents told the BBC they person been frustrated astatine the standard and the velocity of the betterment efforts.

One resident, Les Munn, said helium has truthful acold received $500 (£395) from Fema - little than the terms of a nighttime successful astir edifice rooms connected the island.

For now, helium is inactive sleeping connected a cot successful a shelter.

Another local, Felicia Johnson, said that "everybody wants the glory but cipher wants to enactment their feet connected the ground".

Others expressed vexation that locally sourced supplies are being turned distant by authorities officials, oregon that roadworthy closures person prevented radical from entering Lahaina to help.

"The government's getting successful the mode of radical helping," said Liz Germansky, who mislaid her location successful the fire.

"I don't deliberation the authorities could person done less," she told the BBC portion sitting successful a snarl of postulation connected the island. "The mode things are unfolding close present is emblematic of what we each experienced connected Tuesday... it's nary wonderment that this got truthful retired of hand."