As many as 36 people have been reported dead in Hawaii as fast-moving wildfires rave through Maui.
Fire swept across Island’s primary tourist spot -Lahaina, killing a total of thirty six people and ambushing parts of a centuries-old town. The fire that went on throughout the night forced the residents of the resort city to dive into ocean for safety.
While, Maui crews persisted to battle flames in other places on the island, the last update on death toll on the Mau county’s website was on late Wednesday. Apart from the information that 271 structures were damaged or destroyed and dozens of people injured, officials were unavailable to provide any other details regarding death count.
The town had been a tourist favourite since the 1700s. “It was so hard to sit there and just watch my town burn to ashes and not be able to do anything," said Kawaakoa, who along with her husband and 6-year-old son escaped under smoke-filled skies on a Tuesday afternoon, and is currently in an evacuation shelter. She recalled witnessing a senior centre across the road erupting in flames as her family fled the scene, and although she affirms informing 911, whether or not the people inside were rescued remains uncertain.
The wildfire was flagged by strong winds passing far to the south, originating from Hurricane Dora. Experts blame climate change for the increased occurrence of such events. As the situation ameliorated a little, some flights resumed on Wednesday, to gain an estimate of the devastation. An aerial video released showed wrecked homes and heaps of rubble piled close to the waterfront, a a thick blanket of smoke over ambushed trees.
An approximate of 14,500 people were without power and cell services on Wednesday. Major General Kenneth, Hawaii State Department of Defense affirmed that officials were profusely working to get communications up and running and distribute water. He added that National Guard helicopters had also dropped 150,000 gallons of water from above in an effort to assuage the fires.
At a news conference on Wednesday morning, the mayor of Maui County, Richard Bissen Jr. admitted that officials had not yet begun investigating the immediate cause of the fires, but they did point to a combination of dry conditions, low humidity and high winds as a contributing factor.
Over 2,100 people were kept in evacuation centres on Tuesday night, while 2,000 travellers were sheltered at Kahului Airport, because of cancelled flights. Officials were simultaneously preparing the Hawaii Convention Center in Honolulu to take in displaced tourists and locals.
US President Joe Biden said that he had ordered all available federal assets and had the Hawaii National Guard mobilise Chinook helicopters to assist fire suppression and search and rescue activity in Maui. “Our prayers are with those who have seen their homes, businesses and communities destroyed," Biden added.