36 Dead As A Result Of Maui, Hawaii Wildfires

A total of 36 persons were killed as fire spread through Lahaina, the island’s main tourist destination, and ambushed several old-town buildings. Residents of the vacation city were forced to jump into the water for safety as a result of the nightlong fire.

The latest update on the death toll on the Mau county website was sent late on Wednesday, despite the fact that Maui personnel continued to fight fires in other parts of the island. Officials were unable to give any other information on the death toll, except from the fact that 271 buildings were damaged or destroyed and scores of people were wounded.

 

Since the 1700s, the village has been a favorite among visitors. “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, together with her husband and 6-year-old son, managed to flee on a Tuesday afternoon under smoke-filled skies and is presently staying in an evacuation center. She recounted seeing a senior center across the street catch fire as her family escaped the scene. Although she claims to have phoned 911, it is unclear whether or not the residents were saved.

 

Strong gusts from Hurricane Dora that were blowing far to the south signaled the start of the wildfire. Experts attribute the rise of these catastrophes to climate change. On Wednesday, a few flights were restarted as the situation began to improve so that we could determine the extent of the destruction. An airborne video that was made public showed destroyed dwellings, mounds of debris piled up near to the river, and trees that had been felled.

 

On Wednesday, some 14,500 individuals were without cell service and electricity. Major General Kenneth of the Hawaii State Department of Defense confirmed that several efforts were being made to establish communications and provide water. He continued by saying that in an attempt to put out the flames, National Guard helicopters had also dropped 150,000 gallons of water from the sky.

 

Richard Bissen Jr., the mayor of Maui County, said during a press conference on Wednesday morning that authorities had not yet started looking into the exact cause of the fires, but they had pointed to a mix of dry weather, low humidity, and strong winds as a significant factor.

 

Due to canceled flights, more over 2,100 individuals were housed in evacuation centers on Tuesday night, while 2,000 travelers sought refuge at Kahului Airport. In Honolulu, officials were preparing the Hawaii Convention Center to receive displaced visitors and residents.

 

According to US President Joe Biden, he has directed all government resources to be made available, and the Hawaii National Guard has mobilized Chinook helicopters to help with search and rescue operations on Maui. “Our prayers are with those who have seen their homes, businesses, and communities destroyed,” said Biden.