On Wednesday, wildfires fanned by faraway hurricane winds killed at least six people and damaged most of the resort city of Lahaina on Hawaii’s Maui island, prompting many to evacuate and some to flee into the ocean to escape the smoke and flames.
As officials reported significant devastation to Lahaina, its harbor, and nearby areas, multiple neighborhoods were burned to the ground and the western part of the island was nearly shut off with only one roadway open.
The Honolulu Star-Advertiser stated that 271 buildings were damaged or destroyed, citing official reports from flyovers done by the US Civil Air Patrol and the Maui Fire Department.
“We just experienced the worst disaster I’ve ever witnessed. Lahaina has been completely consumed by fire. It’s like the apocalypse”, said Mason Jarvi, a Lahaina resident who fled the city.
Aerial video shows pillars of smoke rising from block after block of Lahaina, Maui’s most popular tourist attraction and home to numerous huge hotels.
Because of three significant fires, western Maui was closed to all but emergency personnel and evacuees.
The fires, which began Tuesday night, also charred areas of Hawaii’s Big Island. Thousands of acres were burned, according to the report.
According to Ed Sniffen of the Hawaii Department of Transportation, at least 4,000 visitors were attempting to exit western Maui.
“Despite the fact that at least 16 roads were closed, the Maui airport was fully operational, and airlines were lowering tickets and offering waivers to get passengers off the island”, said Sniffen.
Panicked refugees shared photographs of towering smoke clouds over once-idyllic beaches and palm trees on social media.
“I was the last one off the dock when the firestorm ripped through the banyan trees, destroying everything. And I just ran out and helped everyone I could along the way”, said Dustin Johnson, who was working for a charter boat firm that gives two-hour trips in Lahaina Harbour.
According to a Maui County press release, some persons were compelled to leap into the Pacific Ocean to escape the smoke and fire conditions, leading the US Coast Guard to rescue them.
Officials stated that they were investigating witness claims of persons being stuck in their vehicles.
“The locals have lost everything. They’ve been evicted from their home. They’ve lost their pets. It’s heartbreaking”, Jimmy Tokioka, director of the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, said.
At least 20 people sustained severe burns and were transported to Oahu.
As communication with the west half of Maui was only possible via satellite, Lieutenant Governor Sylvia Luke noted that power outages and disruptions to cell phone coverage hindered evacuation attempts.
“We have overcrowded shelters. We have resources that are taxed”, Luke explained.
This summer’s devastation in Hawaii was reminiscent of scenes of devastation elsewhere in the world, as wildfires fueled by record-breaking heat forced the evacuation of tens of thousands of people in Greece, Spain, Portugal, and other parts of Europe, and western Canada experienced particularly severe fires.
Scientists claim that human-caused climate change, fueled by the use of fossil fuels, is increasing the frequency and intensity of such extreme weather events. They have long cautioned that government leaders must reduce emissions to avoid global catastrophe.
President Joe Biden sent a condolence message to the White House, praising the actions of firemen and directing all available Federal assets on the Islands to assist with response.
“The National Guard, US Navy, Marines, and Coast Guard were activated, and the US Department of Transportation assisted with evacuation efforts”, said Biden.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s administrator, Deanne Criswell, stated that US assistance had already been authorized.
The source of the flames in Maui was unknown, but the National Weather Service reported the fires were fanned by a combination of dry vegetation, strong winds, and low humidity.
Hurricane Dora’s gusts, according to officials, fueled the flames across the state.
As of 11 a.m. local time (2100 GMT), the storm was roughly 860 miles (1,380 km) southwest of Honolulu, according to the National Hurricane Centre.
A wind alert issued by the National Weather Service remained in effect until Thursday morning.
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