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The death toll resulting from a rapidly spreading wildfire that devastated a historic Hawaiian town has tragically increased to 36 individuals, as confirmed by officials on Wednesday. In a desperate bid to escape the swiftly advancing flames, distressed residents resorted to seeking refuge in the ocean.
The inferno ignited during the early hours of Tuesday, posing a severe threat to residences, establishments, and vital infrastructure. The Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, in a recent communication, indicated that the conflagration jeopardized the well-being of over 35,000 inhabitants on Maui Island.
Over 2,000 acres (800 hectares) of land have fallen victim to the relentless blaze, ravaging the landscape.
“While the valiant firefighting endeavors persist, it is with deep sorrow that we acknowledge the discovery of a total of 36 fatalities amidst the ongoing Lahaina fire,” conveyed the official statement released by the Maui county government.
“Strong and erratic winds, along with arid conditions, prompted a Red Flag Warning across significant portions of Hawai’i. The warning concluded late Wednesday, yet numerous fires continued to ravage the Big Island and Maui,” as reported by the state’s emergency agency.
Amidst a disaster that seemingly erupted with little forewarning, United States Coast Guard personnel heroically rescued a minimum of a dozen individuals from the water, as local emergency services found themselves overwhelmed.
The town of Lahaina bore the brunt of the devastation, with over 270 structures either damaged or obliterated, as stated by officials earlier on Wednesday.
Governor Josh Green, speaking of the historic town of Lahaina, known for its appeal to tourists and home to around 12,000 residents, expressed, “A substantial portion of Lahaina on Maui now lies in ruins, displacing hundreds of local families.”
A video shared on social media depicts ferocious fires engulfing the heart of the picturesque beachfront town, billowing colossal plumes of ominous black smoke into the sky.
“People are resorting to leaping into the water as a desperate measure to evade the encroaching flames,” reported US Army Major General Kenneth Hara, the state adjutant general, in an interview with Hawaii News Now.
Amidst the dire situation, stranded travelers seek federal assistance. In response, officials have urgently advised visitors currently on Maui to swiftly depart the island. A well-coordinated effort is underway, employing buses to facilitate the transportation of travelers from various hotels to Kahului Airport. This orchestrated effort began Wednesday afternoon, as conveyed in a statement issued on the official Facebook page of the County of Maui.
Given the limited resources available during this critical period, individuals with vehicles or any means of transportation are earnestly requested to promptly vacate both Lahaina and the entire Maui region.
Numerous travelers found themselves stranded at Kahului Airport late on Wednesday due to flight cancellations and delays. An AFP journalist observed some individuals sleeping on the airport floor.
To combat the fires, the US military has dispatched three helicopters for firefighting and additional ones to aid search and rescue missions, as stated by the US Indo-Pacific Command.
In support of firefighting efforts, military helicopters released approximately 150,000 gallons (570,000 liters) of water over Maui County on Wednesday, according to CNN, as shared by state adjutant general Hara during a press conference. Hara emphasized the prioritization of saving lives, minimizing human suffering, and mitigating property loss.
Efforts were underway to restore cellular communication across the island and distribute water, authorities confirmed.
The state’s emergency management agency announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) had granted federal funding in response to a request to combat the wildfires. FEMA’s aid encompasses a potential reimbursement of up to 75% of eligible firefighting costs.
Claire Kent, a resident of Lahaina, recounted witnessing her neighborhood being engulfed in flames shortly after she evacuated. Kent’s description of cars trapped in traffic amidst the fire-paved road and the perilous situation resembled a scene from a horror movie. She expressed concerns that some individuals, particularly homeless and those lacking vehicles, were unable to escape.
A first responder who surveyed the aftermath reported a scene of profound devastation. The responder noted the landscape of rubble, ash, and smoke, with buildings left in ruins.
Chrissy Lovitt, speaking to Hawaii News Now, lamented the destruction of every boat at Lahaina Harbor, likening the sight to a scene from a war movie due to the water being ablaze from fuel.
Sylvia Luke, the lieutenant governor of the state, attributed the fires to dry conditions exacerbated by strong winds from Hurricane Dora, located several hundred miles south of the islands without a projected landfall.
By late Wednesday, nearly 11,000 individuals on Maui were experiencing power outages, according to the tracking website PowerOutage.us.
