Destruction. We are talking miles of coastline completely burned. This heat, this tremendous heat. Major the urgent need for more resources as just 100 firefighters struggled to get control of the massive blaze. President biden has signed off on what will likely be a politically charged agreement with iran to bring home five imprisoned american citizens. In exchange, the Iranian Regime will gain access to billions of dollars in blocked funds. The assassination of a president ial candidate rocking the country of ecuador. This less than two weeks before an election has led to a State Of Emergency there. The new Consumer Price index or cpi for joes inflation rose for the first time in 12 months. I have to choose. It is very difficult. Major eye on america. How a Deep Diving Robot is helping electric Vehicle Manufacturers keep up with demand. Each 5 million Robotic Vehicle uses cameras and Artificial Intelligence to find rocks that contain metals, but not animal life. Bears that once existed to become astronaut are being broken down. Major Virgin GalacticsMaiden Voyage taking tourists into space. Im still up there. Without a doubt the most exciting day of my life. I definitely feel a lot more connected to earth itself, and a lot more motivated to explore and be even more adventurous. Major good evening everyone and thank you for joining us. I am Major Garrett in for norah. We begin tonight with those catastrophic wildfires in hawaii that are tearing a path through maui, leaving behind death and destruction. The fastmoving flames have turned this colorful, tropical paradise into black smoke, ash, and soot. Take a look at these before and after photos from the city of lahaina and its historic harbor. A vibrant neighborhood reduced to scorched earth. At least 36 people have been killed and an unknown number are missing. President biden today approved a major disaster declaration for hawaii. And county Officials Say the Fire Near Lahaina is 80 contained. Cbss Jonathan Videography will start us off tonight. Jonathan, good evening. Reporter major, good evening to you. Battling wildfires is an enormous job, but here on the island, there are only around 100 firefighters responding to three different scenes. For context, in New York City, 200 firefighters responded to a crane fire last week. And for that reason, the military has been brought in to assist with search and rescue, and even civilians are helping out. Tonight, hawaii is in a state of shock, and resources are stretched thin as firefighters battle three large wildfires burning in maui. [bleep] fire right here appeared to hundreds of structures, mostly in the town of lahaina, are already gone. The house i lived in. Reporter Blue Hawaiian Helicopters has delivered basic supplies to those who lost everything. Roads are blocked and power lines are down. One of the quickest ways to get these in and to get people out is by air. Reporter we were there as they help this family evacuate. Our people need them, we are there. Were going to take care of them and make sure they get support. Reporter hurricaneforce winds sent a wall of flames tearing across the island on tuesday, giving residents little time to react. The coast guard rescued 17 people who Ran Into The Ocean to escape the flames in an apocalyptic scene. This is not even the worst of it. Still get dead bodies in the water, floating, and on the seawall. Theyve been sitting there since last night. Oh, my gosh, look at the harbor. Reporter the death toll is expected to climb, as block after block of lahaina has been reduced to charred rubble. We are talking dozens of homes in this neighborhood alone, completely gone, and whats incredible, miles of this coastline are charred just like this. Gallery owner alan dickar watched the entire Business District go up in flames before quickly evacuating. Grab some people who didnt have a way out. He told them to get their stuff. Get in my truck. And we headed out. Reporter more than 11,000 people, mostly tourists, have already been evacuated. Its a major blow to mauis economy. Last year, tourism generated more than 5. 5 billion in revenue, roughly 80 of total revenue. The wind was so intense. Reporter 76 Euros William Bugle said he was burned on his arm on the roof blew off his house and he was hit by redhot shingles. You saw this fire oh, yeah it went from like, nothing, to like them i felt this heat, this tremendous heat. Reporter and we have spoken with a number of survivors who describe truly nightmarish scenes. The bodies of people in the street, in burnedout cars, even on the beach. Tonight, the search continues and sources close to it say they fear that death toll could rise significantly, major. Major working around the clock for us, jonathan vigliotti, thank you. For more now on how strong winds from Hurricane Dora are fueling these claims, lets bring in meteorologist mike bettes from our partners at the weather channel. Mike, good evening. Major, good evening. Unfortunately, it was a perfect set of weather circumstances that came together to fan the flames in maui. Highpressure to the north of the islands, a hurricane to the south, and the Pressure Gradient created a very intense wind. Wins intense out of the northeast, you can clearly see that depicted here and then the fires that broke out, especially the one there in lahaina that created all of the destruction, and we know a number of lives have been lost be up on the big island, 80 to mileperhour winds come on mauis winds have gusted as high as 62 miles per hour, then drought goes handinhand, were the worst drought in all of the island, the Western Shores of maui, where we had the fires. Now, unfortunately, we dont think the winds are going to let up all that much. The hurricane is pulling away, major, but the winds will remain intense for at least the next 24 hours if not beyond. Major mike bettes, thank you. Now to a surprise deal between the United States and iran that will free five imprisoned americans in exchange for releasing billions of dollars in frozen funds. Cbss Chief Foreign Affair correspondence Margaret Brennan on why some are criticizing the agreement. Reporter as the first staff of President Bidens deale americans were casper from tehrans notorious prison to house arrest. The Secretary Of State antony blinken. My believe is this is the beginning of the end of their nightmare. Reporter the prisoners may be back on u. S. Soil as soon as september. For years, the detainees family bring these loved ones home. Dad, welcome home. Reporter Businessman Emad Shargi was taken in 2018. So is environmentalist morad tahbaz. The lure of gnomic brother of siamak namazi, imprisoned in 2015, today called the past eigf imprisonment horrific. Two other americans, whose names are withheld, will also be released. The breakthrough comes amid tension. Earlier this summer, the u. S. Sent additional warships and marines to the gulf after iran attempted to seize two oil tankers peered today, the white house declined to detail the deal, citing negotiations as both delicate and ongoing. In exchange, iran will be able to access 6 billion in a restricted account in south korea. Those funds will be transferred to qatar. Once there, iran will be able to use those funds for purchases permitted under u. S. Sanctions. Now, the white house said this is not ransom and no u. S. Taxpayer dollars are involved, but in the meantime, iran claims that the u. S. Will also release and pardon five iranian prisoners. As of tonight, major, the u. S. Says no one in u. S. Custody has been released. Major within the context and the details. Margaret brennan, thank you. Breaking to make him a grand jury in New York City has indicted a 17yearold suspect on a hate crime charge. After a brutal confrontation at a gas pump in brooklyn resulted in the death of oshae sibley, a 28yearold black man. Cbss Michael George has more. Oshae and his friends were allegedly targeted. Reporter prosecutors a professional dancer oshae sibley was targeted because he was gay. A 17yearold High School Student was arrested for the stabbing. We will never tolerate acts of hate crimes or any intolerance that is directed at any particular groups. Reporter the suspect, whose name was not released, is facing a charge of seconddegree murder as a hate crime. Last month, Authorities Say the 17yearold hurled Homophobic Slurs toward sibley and his friends when they stopped to get gas. The argument escalated, and sibley was stabbed in the chest, and later died. Oshae came to new york to follow his dream, like many new yorkers, and his light was shut off. Reporter on tuesday, hundreds of people attended sibleys funeral in his hometown of philadelphia. Michael george, cbs news, new york. Major today, we got new Economic Data showing Consumer Prices rose 3. 2 in july, far smaller than the 8. 5 at this time last year. Cbss carter evans reports that while inflation has fallen in some areas, the summer heat is keeping some costs whitehot. I dont have to worry about paying this airconditioning bill. Reporter for robin line, the Air Conditioning in her buildings Community Room is a welcome relief. Reporter what do you keep the thermostat in your apartmen . Oh, 78. Reporter but her july electric bill still jumped 46 , and on a fixed income, she can barely cover the basics. I have to choose, you know, milk one week, eggs the next week, its very difficult. Reporter the Inflation Numbers him to be easing. Are you feeling at home, though . No, not at all. Reporter running airconditioning in the record heat is expected to drive up energy costs nearly 12 this summer. Its a Budget Buster for some families. Theres a lot of work that shows that poorer households do suffer high inflation rate. These people are feeling it somewhere on 56 . Reporter that is because most of lowincome families budget goes to necessities, which are still rising, like rent, groceries, and electricit. And there is no evidence people are using credit cards to cover the bills. For the first time in the u. S. , Credit Card Debt has surpassed 1 trillion. We polled consumers that carry credit card balances about what was behind that, what caused it . Emergency and unplanned expenses was the top answer. But even everyday expenses, about one in four, a sign of financial strain. Reporter now gas prices have been taking up in recent weeks. A little too late to impact the july Inflation Report but if those prices keep rising, it could add some inflationary Inflationary Pressure when the september reading comes around next month. Major . Major necessities, they always matter. Carter evans, thank you for your a political assassination in ecuador has thrown the country into a State Of Emergency, and tonight, an fbi is arriving there to assist in the investigation. A president ial candidate who vowed to root out corruption was shot and killed after a rally on wednesday. Seven suspects from colombia were arrested. One died after a gun battle. Ecuador, a key u. S. Ally in the fight against drug trafficking, he said to have its president ial election later this month. President biden marked the oneyear anniversary of the pact act. That is the bipartisan law that expanded Health Benefits to veterans who were exposed to toxic fumes from Military Burn Pits and other sources. Cbss ed okeefe reports the deadline to qualify for retroactive benefits has been extended, but time is running out. In april of this year. Reporter marking the anniversary of a landmark law, today in utah, President Biden recalled his son, beau, one of the veterans exposed to toxic fumes from burn pits at bases in iraq and afghanistan. And later died of brain cancer. Its personal for my family, but its also personal for so many of you. Reporter Army ReservistLe Roy Torres also served in iraq. Ten years later, he was diagnosed with constrictive bronchitis. I was more concerned with either, you know, indirect fire or being shot, but never did i know that, you know, this Invisible Enemy was going to follow us home. Reporter the pact act is designed to assist up to 4. 5 million veterans exposed to burn pits or to agent orange in vietnam. So far, there have been about 800,000 signups. Veterans like us are now eligible for a new va care and benefits. Reporter secretary of Veterans Affairs denis mcdonough. We are providing more care, more benefits, to more veterans than in the history of the United States. Reporter Army Staff Sergeant dan nevins lost both legs in iraq. He was later diagnosed with colon cancer and has signed up fofor the pact act. Should i succumb to this disease, my family will be taken care of, and that. Its powerful. Its just a testimony to our nation standing behind our warriors. Reporter important to note, eligible veterans or their survivors can apply for benefits at any time, but today was the original deadline to also earn a years worth of retroactive benefits. Met last minute crush of applicants to the vas website slow down the process, so the department has now extended the deadline until monday. Major . Major ed okeefe for us at the white house, thank you. Sales of electric vehicles in the u. S. Are up 63 from a year ago. That means higher demand for the metals needed to make Ev Batteries Peered in tonights eye on america, cbss ben tracy does a deep dive into how Artificial Intelligence is helping find those materials in a place you not expect. Reporter this underwater robot being lowered into lake huron is built by a Company Called impossible metals. Impossible because this is hard to do . Yes, very much so. Reporter thats because its job is to mind the bottom of the ocean. Deepsea mining is the concept of pulling metals off the ocean floor. Reporter Company Cofounder renee grogan says parts of the ocean floor are filled with potato sized rocks containing vast amounts of cobalt, copper, and nickel, metals needed to make batteries for electric cars. How much of this stuff is down there . A lot. The second question is, how do you get it . Reporter we watched a test of the prototype, which used a retractable arm to pluck rocks off the bottom of the lake. The real thing will be three times larger and travel for miles down into the deep sea. Each 5 million Robotic Vehicle uses cameras and Artificial Intelligence to find rocks that contain metals, but not animal life. So, the clause themselves driven by the ai and saying, take it, leave it, take it, leave it. To be able to ensure that the ecosystem on the seafloor remains intact. Reporter typical deepsea mining uses a robot to dredge the seafloor and could soon be approved and what is known as the clarionclipperton zone. 2 million square miles of the Pacific Ocean rich with mineral deposits. Scientists are worried that mining here will destroy the habitat of thousands of prayer deepsea species and spread plumes of toxic sediment. You cant try to save the planet by breaking the planet in the process. Those several years of mining are going to cause centuries of damage. Reporter renee grogan says deepsea mining can be done responsibly with Artificial Intelligence. She expects her Companys Technology to be deployed within five years. And that could lead to a slight name change. Im looking forward to the day we can just, yeah, take those two off and look at that. Reporter change the name again. [laughter] for eye on america, ben tracy, on the shores of lake huron. Major a former olympian, a motherdaughter duo, and theheir hihighflying g adventure. E. Thatats next. geri i smoked and i have copd. My children are really worried. My tip is, sendnd your kidsds a text. It mayay be the lalast time that youou do. announcncer you cacan quit. Cacall 1800qquitnow for help Gettingng Freeee medication. Bug spray y works bestst. When your r family actually w wears it. Get odororfree eight Hourur Protectioion from mososquitoes anand tics without t the ick. Zevovo onbody r repellent. People l love it. Bubugs hate itit. Im shsholeh, people l love it. And i lolost 75 poununds withth golo. I i went from m a size 200 to a s size 6. 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