The island of Maui in Hawaii has been devastated by a series of wildfires that have killed at least 53 people, injured dozens more, and burned more than 1,000 structures, including the historic town of Lahaina. The fires, which started on Tuesday, were fueled by strong winds from Hurricane Dora, which passed south of the island chain.
Lahaina reduced to ashes
Lahaina, a popular tourist destination and the largest town on Maui’s west side, was hit hard by the fire that swept through the area on Wednesday. The town, which dates back to the 1700s and has a rich cultural and historical heritage, was largely destroyed by the flames.
According to Hawaii Governor Josh Green, who flew over the town on Thursday, “Lahaina, with a few rare exceptions, has been burned down.” He said that more than 270 structures were affected by the fire, including homes, businesses, and historic sites. He also said that the death toll was likely to rise as search and rescue operations continue.
Some of the residents and visitors who managed to escape the fire described the scene as “apocalyptic” and “horrific”. Tiffany Kidder Winn, who owned a gift store in Lahaina that was burned down, said she saw charred bodies inside vehicles that were trapped in traffic on Front Street, the main street of the town. She also said she could not recognize the landmarks that were gone.
Evacuations and emergency response
The fire in Lahaina was one of three fires that were burning on Maui on Thursday. The other two fires were in Pulehu and Upcountry areas, where residents were also evacuated. The county officials said that more than 11,000 people were flown out of Maui on Wednesday night, and another 4,000 wanted to leave the island.
The emergency response efforts were hampered by widespread power outages and communication disruptions that affected cell service, phone lines, and 911 calls. The county officials urged people to use social media or radio stations to get information and updates.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) approved a disaster declaration for Hawaii on Wednesday night, allowing federal assistance to supplement state and local efforts. President Joe Biden said in a statement that he ordered “all available Federal assets” to help combat the wildfires, including Black Hawk helicopters provided by the Marines.
The Hawaii Convention Center in Honolulu was also prepared to accommodate up to 4,000 people displaced by the wildfires.
Hurricane Dora adds to the challenge
The wildfires on Maui were exacerbated by the strong winds from Hurricane Dora, which was a Category 4 storm that passed about 790 miles south-southwest of Honolulu on Wednesday. The hurricane brought gusts of up to 50 mph to some parts of the island, making it difficult for firefighters to contain the flames.
The hurricane also caused heavy rain and flash flooding on some parts of the Big Island, where three other wildfires were burning. Two of them were at least 60% contained as of Thursday morning, while the third one threatened about 200 homes in Kohala Ranch.
Acting Governor Sylvia Luke said that residents had been preparing for the hurricane but did not anticipate the wildfires. “We expect rain, sometimes we expect floods,” she said. “We never anticipated in this date that a hurricane which did not make impact on our islands would cause these type of wildfires.”