in the state's history, with 80% of a historic coastal town gone. asylum seekers housed on a barge on the south coast of england are being moved off after legionella bacteria is found on board. we will bejoined we will be joined life by labour's shadow immigration minister. —— live. ukraine's president sacks the heads of military enlistment in every region of the country, following corruption allegations. hello, i'm matthew amroliwala. welcome to verified live — three hours of breaking stories, and checking out the truth behind them. we start in hawaii where 55 people are now known to have died in devastating wildfires. about 1,000 remain unaccounted for. damage to communication lines is making it difficult to locate people.

large parts of maui have been totally devastated. have a look at these drone pictures from the historic coastal town of la haina. burnt out wreckage of so many homes there. the governor of hawaii, josh green, estimated that 80 per cent of the town was gone — in what he said, was probably the us state's, largest ever natural disaster. some properties have been left untouched by the flames — whilst others — just metres away — have been completely destroyed. local people have been left sifting though the debris. they say there were no warning sirens to alert them as the flames moved towards their homes. authorities say it will take many years and billions of dollars to repair the damage caused by devastating wildfires. this map gives you a better idea of where the fires have ripped through over the last few days. they are marked in orange. as we have said, lahaina was worst hit with that satellite image on the left of the screen highlighting that.

but the smaller red areas are the fires that are still burning. this is the reality of what that map shows. astonishing pictures from a passenger plane flying above maui. the intensity of those wildfires — that is what the authorities have been battling. some of the people who managed to escape from the flames — gathered in a safe parking area — to spend the night. they've been describing what happened. i lost my home, all of my papers, too, everything. all i could take with me was my wife, my son, my car, and that is it. i felt like i was going to die. it was just fire filled up the parking lot, everything, just put a towel over my face and started going. as we were leaving, i go out first, i have thick clothes on,

double, triple layers, and everything is red, it is all dust and wind. we saw the smoke finally by the time we got in the house. it was, like, a minute ortwo. we saw the black smoke coming at our house, wejust has to run out and grab whatever we could. we got in the car and we were able to see the flames from our neighbour's house. we have heard other survivors describe how theyjumped into the sea to escape the flames. to give you a sense of that i wanted to show you these pictures. they were filmed from a boat as it sailed away from lahaina looking back at the shore. you can see the huge amount

of smoke — and the flames — around the harbour. you can understand why some people decided to take the risk and jump into the sea and tread water for hours. the coastguard said that about 50 people were rescued from the sea. they put paddle boat into the water to get people out, including some small children. —— paddle boards. a relief operation is under way to help the residents. makeshift shelters have been set up and there are queues of traffic as people head towards them, so they at least have some shelter. you can see from these pictures matresses have been brought in for people to sleep on. this photo taken at the war memorial stadium shelter in maui. a makeshift noticeboard has been set up. there are pleas for missing loved ones to get in contact such as "we love you marisa, call us please."

there are offers of help, "can give rides to the airport "up to three." a reminder that hundreds of people are still missing. earlier i spoke to cindy mcmillan from the hawaii emergency management agency. she's in honolulu and described the last 36 hours on the island. we know that many people around the world love hawaii and are concerned about the impact of these deadly fires, and all of us here are deeply saddened by the loss of life caused by these wildfires, that is a terrible blow to the community. many people have lost their homes, their businesses, it is unimaginable loss that the systolic community, over the last 36 hours, all levels of government, local, state, federal, as well as private sector partners, are working together to protect

lives and sustain the survivors. you must be overwhelmed. we're looking at the pictures as speak, i took our viewers through so many of the different aspects of the pictures comedy damage, the devastation, it is horrifying. something that comes out of when you hear accounts from survivors is simply the speed of this, that really was something that caught so many people by surprise. it really dead, matthew. 0f caught so many people by surprise. it really dead, matthew. of course we knew it was dry conditions, we knew there was a hurricane to the south of the state during the winds, but i will tell you what, when there is 120 kilometre winds coming through undertakes a spark, and despite the best preparations, you cannot fight nature that way. that fire is going to spread, it is going to go fast. some firefighters are still battling the hotspots and attacking flyers on the island of maui. the governor and emergency officials were able to visit earlier

today. 0ver officials were able to visit earlier today. over 270 structures have been confirmed burned. the governor said it could be over 1000. it isjust devastating in this historic community. devastating in this historic community-— devastating in this historic community. devastating in this historic communi . ., , ., ., community. the magnitude is hard to ut in community. the magnitude is hard to put in towards- _ community. the magnitude is hard to put in towards. i— community. the magnitude is hard to put in towards. i will— community. the magnitude is hard to put in towards. i will talk— community. the magnitude is hard to put in towards. i will talk about - put in towards. i will talk about the shelters and your work in a moment, but in terms of what i mentioned there, the hundreds of people trying to find loved ones, thatis people trying to find loved ones, that is really problematic with so many lines of communication at down at the moment. the communication lines being down poses a tremendous challenge. the american red cross is helping loved ones reconnect, but it is a challenge with cell phones and power lines and phone lines all down, it is a real challenge, and the american red cross is helping. there are people helping on social media, connecting loved ones, so it will remain a challenge for the next few days as we try to...

once the hotspots are actually out, then our recovery can begin and we can start to recover the critical infrastructure. and of course we have heard from the authorities it will take years to recover. in the immediate next few days, tell me more about the help that you are actually organising and sending, and how you are getting it to actually the most vulnerable. after daylight, the search and rescue teams will continue their work in the operations that have been damaged by the fire. right now, evacuations continue for those visitors and residents of maui so that we can get them off the island so that the search and rescue teams can go ahead and do their work. we are also doing this because we want less pressure to be on the shelters down in maui, so get people off maui and onto other islands, then there will be less pressure on the shelters, like some of those images you shared.

does it feel overwhelming, as we're talking now? i'm sure for those people in that situation, of course it does. they've lost everything, and we are trying to get help as quickly as we can, but it is a very trying circumstance. the us administration have moved quickly in the last 2a hours, with vice president, harris speaking in the last few minutes on the destruction as she boarded a flight to chicago —— kamala harris. the to chicago -- kamala harris. the president — to chicago -- kamala harris. the president and _ to chicago -- kamala harris. the president and i _ to chicago -- kamala harris. the president and i are _ to chicago —— kamala harris. tue: president and i are deeply to chicago —— kamala harris. tte: president and i are deeply concerned about what is happening in hawaii and in maui in particular. we are monitoring it closely. we are

coordinating federal resources to swiftly get their to support the work that has to be done in terms of recovery and to support the people on the ground. it is tragic what is happening there. i have full faith and confidence in any leadership in hawaii to stay on top of this, but they will have our full support, and it really is tragic, and of course the facts are unfolding as more information comes together around what is actually happening in terms of the damage and of course the loss of the damage and of course the loss of life. our prayers are with the families and with the leaders as well. d0 families and with the leaders as well. ,., , ., families and with the leaders as well. ,., ,, ., families and with the leaders as well. ., ., , , ., ., ., well. do you have any plans to go to hawaii to tour _ well. do you have any plans to go to hawaii to tour any _ well. do you have any plans to go to hawaii to tour any of _ well. do you have any plans to go to hawaii to tour any of the _ well. do you have any plans to go to hawaii to tour any of the wildfire - hawaii to tour any of the wildfire damage? — hawaii to tour any of the wildfire damage? we hawaii to tour any of the wildfire damaue? ~ . hawaii to tour any of the wildfire damate? ~ ., ., ., hawaii to tour any of the wildfire damaue? ~ ., ., ., .,, damage? we are monitoring it, as with most of— damage? we are monitoring it, as with most of these _ damage? we are monitoring it, as with most of these kind _ damage? we are monitoring it, as with most of these kind of - with most of these kind of situations we want to do what is in the best interests of the people on the best interests of the people on the ground and we do not want to distract from the resources that need to go into the victims of the tragedy, and of course the needs of the first responders, they have to be able to focus on that issue and

not worry about focusing on us if we are there. so that is always something we monitor and balance out, but i will keep you posted. there is the live page on our website, that is being updated all the while, with accounts from people on the ground, and of course just a whole host of the latest pictures, and they are extraordinary, some of the picture feeds there on the live feed. here, within the last hour, the government has confirmed that asylum seekers housed on the bibby stockholm barge moored off the south coast of england are being taken off the vessel. that's because traces of legionella bacteria were found in its water supply. legionella can cause a serious lung infection known as legionaires disease. all 39 migrants have been moved off. the bbc understands the evacuation is a precautionary move and officials are planning to move the migrants back onto the barge once the all—clear has been given. for more on this i'm joined by the shadow immigration minister, stephen kinnock.

welcome to bbc news. your reaction to this news on the bibby stockholm. it adds to be very clear sense that the government is in a state of total shambles on dealing with the asylum crisis. if you look at this week, supposedly in their small boats week, we have had 1100 crossings this week, we have got 10,000 more people in hotels than there were in december. we have had them squabbling about leaving the echr, madcap ascension island scheme came back, we had the deputy chair ellie anderson admitting that they are completely failing to deal with this crisis, and now this today, where they clearly have not completed the safety checks properly, and the entire future of whether or not that badge can be usedis whether or not that badge can be used is now in question. so it is a catalogue of catastrophe and chaos, and government ministers should be hanging their heads in shame. in

hanging their heads in shame. in terms of the government have said about the bibby stockholm, the have said they have been complying with uk health security agency, have gone above and beyond what has been recommended. are you disputing that basic fact? t recommended. are you disputing that basic fact? .., ., recommended. are you disputing that basicfact? ., ,, . ., ., basic fact? i cannot speculate about the recise basic fact? i cannot speculate about the precise details. _ basic fact? i cannot speculate about the precise details. what _ basic fact? i cannot speculate about the precise details. what we - basic fact? i cannot speculate about the precise details. what we can - basic fact? i cannot speculate about| the precise details. what we can see is that those people have been evacuated from the barge, but what this really plays until it is a very clear sense of the backlog being 173,000, a failure at... that clear sense of the backlog being 173,000, a failure at...- 173,000, a failure at... that is a broader point — 173,000, a failure at... that is a broader point i _ 173,000, a failure at... that is a broader point i will _ 173,000, a failure at... that is a broader point i will come - 173,000, a failure at... that is a broader point i will come to - 173,000, a failure at... that is a broader point i will come to in i 173,000, a failure at... that is a broader point i will come to in a | broader point i will come to in a moment, but what do you think about the bibby stockholm at how we got to this position? the the bibby stockholm at how we got to this position?— this position? the sight of all these peeple _ this position? the sight of all these people now _ this position? the sight of all these people now being - this position? the sight of all - these people now being evacuated from the bibby stockholm is a sign of a competent government that has a grip on this issue, nobody could argue that. yet more evidence of a government that has completely lost

control of our asylum system, but has had nothing but neglect and incompetence for the last 13 years, only backlog to get to 100 forcing the use of barges and hotels in the military camps and other completely inappropriate accommodation, costing the british taxpayer £6 million a day... the british taxpayer £6 million a da . r' the british taxpayer £6 million a da... ., day... let me ask you about that, that the broader _ day... let me ask you about that, that the broader policy, _ day... let me ask you about that, that the broader policy, then. - day... let me ask you about that, l that the broader policy, then. over 1000 people have arrived in small boats this week. in terms of arrivals, you were against the rwanda plan, you were against the illegal migrants act that has just been passed. in terms of stopping those arrivals, what is labour's plan? those arrivals, what is labour's ian? ., , ., , those arrivals, what is labour's ian? ., ,., plan? two elements, one is scrapping the unworkable _ plan? two elements, one is scrapping the unworkable unaffordable - plan? two elements, one is scrapping the unworkable unaffordable and - the unworkable unaffordable and unethical rwanda plan and channelling that money into boosting the national crime agency, 100 more officers there working much more closely with you to pull and interpol to get more cooperation going after the criminal gangs, the

second is a return to deal with the european union. we know we will not get a return to deal with the european union and thus we step up and do our bit, which means offering tightly controlled safe and managed pathways in return for the european union accepting that anybody who tries to cross the channel on a small boat will be sent straight back. keir starmerwill small boat will be sent straight back. keir starmer will have the credibility and the respect of the european union, unlike the conservatives, spent the last years destroying our relationships with our european partners and allies. that will have the basis of trust, and on that basis, we show that we do our bit, in return we get that returns deal, and that is the way to deter people from paying people smugglers to take these dangerous channel crossings. it is common sense, hard graft and quiet diplomacy rather than chasing headwind. ., ., . headwind. you mentioned cutting the backlou , in headwind. you mentioned cutting the backlog, in terms _ headwind. you mentioned cutting the backlog, in terms of— headwind. you mentioned cutting the backlog, in terms of the _ headwind. you mentioned cutting the backlog, in terms of the legacy - backlog, in terms of the legacy backlog, in terms of the legacy backlog, july was the best month on month change, 8500 people off that backlog in that month. do you accept

that actually, recently, they are making progress?— that actually, recently, they are making progress? actually, if you drill down into _ making progress? actually, if you drill down into those _ making progress? actually, if you drill down into those figures, - making progress? actually, if you drill down into those figures, you | drill down into those figures, you will see a huge increase into the number of withdrawn applications, the government has actually changed the government has actually changed the law to make it easier for them to just cancel people's applications, effectively, and they are using that method to reduce the backlog. in essence, they are cooking the books. so i would strongly recommend people would very carefully at those figures, because actually, the way they are getting the backlog down is almost using a sort of back door route. you accept, thou~h, sort of back door route. you accept, though. the — sort of back door route. you accept, though, the basic _ sort of back door route. you accept, though, the basic principle, - sort of back door route. you accept, though, the basic principle, do - though, the basic principle, do you, that the public wants the government in power to tackle this issue of small boats?— in power to tackle this issue of small boats? ' :: :: , ., , ., small boats? 10096, nobody from keir starmer down — small boats? 10096, nobody from keir starmer down in _ small boats? 10096, nobody from keir starmer down in the _ small boats? 10096, nobody from keir starmer down in the labour _ small boats? 10096, nobody from keir starmer down in the labour party - starmer down in the labour party thinks it is a good idea for people to be risking their lives on small boats and paying the people smugglers millions of pounds. we have to stop this happening, but the way to do it is not through gimmicks

and headline chasing, and all the incompetence we have seen this week, which is turning the government into a laughing stock. tt which is turning the government into a laughing stock-— a laughing stock. if you got into ower, a laughing stock. if you got into power. in _ a laughing stock. if you got into power, in terms _ a laughing stock. if you got into power, in terms of _ a laughing stock. if you got into power, in terms of that - a laughing stock. if you got into | power, in terms of that backlog, what are you committing in terms of the timescale for labour to bring those figures down, given everything you said about the backlog and the consequences of that? t will you said about the backlog and the consequences of that?— consequences of that? i will give ou a consequences of that? i will give you a straight — consequences of that? i will give you a straight answer, _ consequences of that? i will give you a straight answer, i - consequences of that? i will give you a straight answer, i cannot l consequences of that? i will give l you a straight answer, i cannot put a specific timeline, because we are going to inherit such a mess, but i can tell you this... going to inherit such a mess, but i can tell you this. . ._ can tell you this. .. isn't that a lame answer? _ can tell you this. .. isn't that a lame answer? it _ can tell you this. .. isn't that a lame answer? it is _ can tell you this. .. isn't that a lame answer? it is our- can tell you this. .. isn't that a lame answer? it is our top - can tell you this. .. isn't that a - lame answer? it is our top priority to net lame answer? it is our top priority to get that — lame answer? it is our top priority to get that returns _ lame answer? it is our top priority to get that returns deal _ lame answer? it is our top priority to get that returns deal with - lame answer? it is our top priority to get that returns deal with the i to get that returns deal with the european union, to stop the new crossings happening, and to really bear down on the backlog, showing the energy, competence and leadership the home office needs by upgrading the seniority of caseworkers and decision—makers, and doing a triage on the backlog so that countries are processed quickly, and that will help to get

that backlog down. we quickly, and that will help to get that backlog down.— quickly, and that will help to get that backlog down. we have to leave it there, that backlog down. we have to leave it there. but — that backlog down. we have to leave it there, but thank _ that backlog down. we have to leave it there, but thank you _ that backlog down. we have to leave it there, but thank you for _ that backlog down. we have to leave it there, but thank you forjoining - it there, but thank you forjoining us on bbc news. it there, but thank you for “oining us on bbc news.�* it there, but thank you for “oining us on bbc news. ., ,, , . we have put a request in with the home office to speak with a government minister and hope to hear from them soon. 0ur political correspondent georgia roberts has been following the story from westminster. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. let's look at some other stories making news in the uk. police are investigating the death of a ten—year—old girl in surrey as murder. police say they have identified a number of individuals that they would like to speak to. they are not looking for anyone else. a scottish fugitive extradited from brazil has beenjailed for almost ten years for serious organised crime and firearms offences. james white, originally from glasgow, pleaded guilty to money laundering, importing millions of pounds

of drugs, and possessing guns and explosives. he headed up one of scotland's most prolific organised crime groups. the 46—year—old was arrested in brazil injune 2020 and was sent back to scotland last august. the comedian, actor, and former family fortunes presenter, les dennis is the 15th and final celebrity contestant to be announced for this year's strictly come dancing. he willjoin others including former tennis player and broadcaster annabel croft, rip—0ff britain presenter angela rippon, and the lead anchor of channel 4 news, krishnan guru—murthy. let's turn to ukraine, where president zelenskyy has sacked all of the heads of military enlistment in each region across the country. it follows corruption allegations. kyiv has been conscripting ukrainians for its counter—offensive to recapture territory controlled by moscow's troops. let's take a listen to his announcement. translation: we are dismissing all rerional translation: we are dismissing all regional military _ translation: we are dismissing all regional military commissars. - translation: we are dismissing all

regional military commissars. this i regional military commissars. this system should be run by people who know exactly what war is on high cynicism and bribery at a time of war is high treason. instead, soldiers who have been through the front or who cannot be in the trenches due to health reasons but have retained their dignity and have no cynicism, they can be entrusted with this recruitment system. 0ur correspondent james waterhouse in kiev gave us more background behind this decision. 33 recruitment heads in every region of ukraine are now out of a job, essentially. an announcement that few expected. a couple of weeks ago, the recruitment head in the southern region of 0desa was even arrested. there is a bit of history here, a bit of tension between these recruitment centres within the military itself,

there is a bit of history here, a bit of tension between these recruitment centres within the military itself, because the issue of mobilisation, where ukraine is calling up and continues to call up thousands of men at a time for its continued war effort, it is a sensitive subject, and there have been issues around how that is done. if you go on what the recruiters say, what the land forces say, they are responsible for it, they say the system needs more money, it needs modernising, and they often get a bad rep for doing the work of the military, and it seems it is politically unpopular in the past for it to receive any kind of funding. and then we have this announcement from president zelenskyy against a backdrop of pressure from western allies to deal with corruption in ukraine, something the country has always grappled with. but then there are also allegations from the men themselves who find themselves receiving draft papers, claims in 0desa certainly where shall we say heavy—handed tactics have been used where there are allegations of men find themselves on the front line with very little training. of course there are sizeable proportions of the population

who are motivated to volunteer and fight, but such is the nature of this war, there is a continued demand for troops took notjust replace those who have been lost, who have been killed, but also to provide relief for those who have been fighting on the front in some pretty unimaginable conditions, for several months now. so this is quite the announcement, and it will have far—reaching consequences. james, meanwhile, there have been further russian missile strikes to the west of the country, tell me a little more about that. this region in western ukraine, when you head that way, for a while, the war feels far away, it is not typically targeted.

but overnight, this morning, missiles were launched by russian fighter jets, one was shot down but one of those missiles landed near a military base where ukrainian fighters were being trained on western jets, that appears to have been targeted. we are told a house was hit, where an eaight—year—old boy was killed. so this is somewhere which typically feels far away from the comfort, but it is a reminder how most of ukraine is under threat. the south—eastern city of zaporizhzhia, even by the standards of this war, has had a miserable 72 hours, missiles hitting civilian buildings. russia claims to be targeting military targets, as it does, but there has been an increase. james waterhouse just mentioned a missile strike by russia — and i'd like to show you the dramatic footage we've been able to verify from ukraine — but i need to warn you that you that you may find this footage destressing. it shows the momentjames was talking about when a missile hits the reikartz hotel in the zaporizhzhia city centre on the bank

of the dnipro river. one person was killed and 16 people were injured. russia claimed it was being used by mercenaries, but the united nations said it was one used by their staff when visiting the city. that footage has been verified by the bbc, showing the moment of that strike. more now on the situation in hawaii. the state is no stranger to wildfires, but those of the past few days are being called the worst natural disaster in the history of the state. what sparked the deadly fires is still under investigation. hurricane winds and dry weather, however, helped fuel the flames — as bbc weather�*s ben rich now explains. the weather on its own rarely causes wildfires, but it can bring conditions that makes them more likely and help to fan the flames, which is exactly what has

happened in hawaii. it has been very dry here of late, and then passing to the south, we have had this major hurricane. the centre of the storm has stayed well away from hawaii, but it has been squashing up against this big area of high pressure, and that squeeze between the two has generated some very strong winds, gusting up to 67 mph. but with that storm now drifting away westwards, the winds are easing. it will stay quite breezy over the next few days, but not as windy as it has been. however, apart from just the odd passing shower, it will remain largely dry. stay with us here on bbc news. the weekend is just around the corner, is it going to rain again? the rest of today is not looking too bad at all, we had some rain earlier but now a case of bright

and sunny weather. however, low pressure will be very close by through the weekend, this is the satellite picture, you can see it spinning around here, just to the west of ireland, and here's the weather map, you can see the low pressure across the uk through the weekend, giving us that mixed bag. but it will not be too bad, i don't think we will have persistent rain, just a mixture of sunshine and showers. end of this afternoon, temperatures around 21 in belfast, 26 in norwich, plenty of dry and bright weather through the course of this evening, then later today we expect some rain to belfast, western parts of scotland, glasgow getting some rain, liverpool, perhaps western areas of wales by the early morning, so norwich, hull, and newcastle waking up to some sunshine early on saturday and around 16 celsius. here's the forecast for saturday, fairly brisk around western coasts, this breeze around the area of low pressure, and for many of us, a mixture of those sunny spells

and occasional showers, but also lengthy spells of sunshine are forecast. sunday, showers looking more frequent, so northern ireland, western parts of scotland, drier weather the further east you are, and some parts of the south and south—east might actually get away with no showers at all. monday and into tuesday, low pressure starting to fizzle away, and by tuesday eventually we'll see high pressure building in. but monday i think a chance of some rain across the south, fine weather for wales, the north west of england, lancashire enjoying some fine weather, the lake district should have some sunshine, but scattered showers expected across parts of scotland. and a little cooler, 19 i think to 21 celsius on monday. the outlook, the weekend

a bit of a mixed bag, showers and even the odd crack of thunder, but remember lengthy spells of sunshine too, and some time later next week, it could warm up once again. bye— bye.

death toll from hawaii's wildfires rises to 55. asylum seekers living on a barge on the south coast of england are moved off after bacteria is found on board and the premier league kicks off in a few hours, can manchester city, travel winners, continue the domination? some new lines coming in from niger. possible military intervention coming after the meeting yesterday of leaders of the regional bloc in the area, they are preparing a meeting to look at one of the options they have said all along,

military intervention. news being