The historic town of Lahaina on Maui, Hawaii’s island, has been devastated by raging wildfires that were fueled by hurricane-force winds. Brian Schatz, a US senator from Hawaii, shared on social media that the town has been almost completely destroyed by the fires. Tragically, at least six people have lost their lives in Maui County as a result of these fires, which have also overwhelmed Maui’s hospitals with burn victims and individuals affected by smoke inhalation.
Firefighters are actively working to control the fires, and first responders are engaged in search and rescue operations, according to Mr. Schatz. Reports have emerged of people resorting to jumping into the ocean to escape the rapidly advancing flames, with the US Coast Guard rescuing numerous individuals from the water.
The mayor of Maui County, Richard Bissen Jr., stated during a press conference that a significant number of homes and business structures have been completely demolished. The extent of the damage remains challenging to ascertain, and officials have cautioned that the casualty count might increase. Displacement has affected approximately 2,100 individuals.
Residents with family in Lahaina expressed concern for their missing loved ones, as the devastation has led to uncertainty about their whereabouts and safety. The fires have led to power outages for nearly 13,000 people and disrupted cell phone services, while 911 services in West Maui were unavailable.
Maui is grappling with multiple active and uncontrollable fires, exacerbated by Hurricane Dora’s influence, which brought powerful winds exceeding 60 mph (97 km/h) along with low humidity levels. President Joe Biden has pledged federal assistance to Hawaii to aid in firefighting and rescue efforts, and the Department of Transportation is coordinating the evacuation of tourists from Maui.
Due to the perilous conditions, the County of Maui has urged visitors to avoid Lahaina, given that access roads are restricted to emergency vehicles only. Hawaii’s Lieutenant Governor Sylvia Luke emphasized that certain areas are overwhelmed, including shelters and resources.
Lahaina, a historically significant town on Maui’s western tip, dates back to the 1700s and holds a place on the US National Register of Historic Places. Maui, the second largest island in the Hawaiian archipelago, attracts numerous tourists with its stunning beaches and seasonal whale watching, having welcomed 2.9 million visitors the preceding year. The island encompasses diverse microclimates, ranging from dry and sunny to lush and humid areas, and experiences both wet and dry seasons, with drought conditions becoming increasingly prevalent.
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