The death toll from the wildfires on the Hawaiian island of Maui has risen to 80.

One of the fires that broke out on Tuesday spread quickly across the main urban area of Lahaina fanned by hurricane-force winds.

More than 1,400 people had taken shelter in a high school and in churches as of Thursday.

Hawaii Governor Josh Green posted photos on social media that he had taken in the affected areas and wrote, "What we saw today was likely the largest natural disaster in Hawaii state history."

The state attorney general Anne Lopez says her department "will be conducting a comprehensive review of critical decision-making and standing policies leading up to, during, and after the wildfires on Maui and Hawaii islands this week."

Hawaii state authorities told NHK that warning sirens had not been activated to alert residents when the fires began. No further details are known, but the failed alerts may have played a part in the extensive damage and the loss of life.