Raging wildfires, intensified by hurricane winds, have ravaged the historic town of Lahaina, located on Hawaii’s island of Maui. Brian Schatz, a US Senator from Hawaii, voiced the severity of the situation on social media, stating that Lahaina is “almost totally burnt to the ground”.
Local officials reported the death of at least six individuals in Maui County on Wednesday. The hospital system on the island is grappling with a sudden influx of patients suffering from burns and smoke inhalation. “Firefighters are still trying to get the fires under control, and our first responders are in search and rescue mode,” Schatz affirmed.
Early on Wednesday, there were reports of residents jumping into the ocean to escape the rapidly advancing flames. The US Coast Guard confirmed the rescue of at least a dozen individuals from the water.
During a news conference, Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen Jr. disclosed that numerous homes and businesses were completely destroyed. A local resident provided a chilling account of the situation to Hawaii News Now, saying that every boat in the town’s harbor was ablaze. “It looks like something out of a movie, a war movie,” resident Chrissy Lovitt reported.
Officials have underscored the challenges in determining the true extent of the damage on Maui and cautioned that the death toll may still rise. Approximately 2,100 residents have been displaced, while many others have reported missing family members. “I still don’t know where my little brother is,” Tiare Lawrence told Hawaii News Now. “I don’t know where my stepdad is.”
Nearly 13,000 residents were left without power on Maui, as per data from PowerOutage.us. Additionally, thousands have lost cell phone service due to the fires, disrupting emergency 911 services in West Maui on Wednesday.
Three significant fires remain active and uncontrolled on the island. Neighboring Hawaii Island, also known as the Big Island, is combatting several separate blazes.
The National Weather Service identified Hurricane Dora as a contributing factor, citing gusts exceeding 60 mph (97km/h) and low humidity levels. Although Dora did not directly hit Hawaii, its peripheral effects have nonetheless proven disastrous.
The federal government has dispatched assistance to Hawaii to aid in firefighting and rescue efforts, according to a statement from President Joe Biden. He further noted the Department of Transportation’s ongoing efforts to evacuate approximately 4,000 tourists stranded on Maui, as reported by state transportation official Ed Sniffen.
The County of Maui has urged visitors to avoid Lahaina, with roads leading into the town closed to all except emergency vehicles. Hawaii’s Lieutenant Governor Sylvia Luke issued a stark warning: “This is not a safe place to be.”
Lahaina, located on the western tip of Maui, is a historic town whose center dates back to the 1700s and is listed on the US National Register of Historic Places. Maui, the second-largest island of the Hawaiian archipelago in the northern Central Pacific, is known for its beautiful beaches and whale watching experiences during winter months, attracting nearly 2.9 million visitors last year.
As the island grapples with these catastrophic fires, the increasing prevalence of drought conditions on Hawaii’s islands serves as a stark reminder of the threats posed by climate change.
