Hawaii authorities have resumed mass evacuations of visitors and residents stranded north of a historic town on the Hawaiian island of Maui that was destroyed by a wildfire, the Associated Press reported, citing officials.
Wildfires fueled by the strong winds of a hurricane passing far south of the island chain swept through the town of Lahaina and other parts of Maui overnight Wednesday. According to the authorities, at least 36 people died and dozens more were injured. More than 271 buildings were damaged or destroyed. It is the deadliest wildfire in the United States since the one in California in 2018, in which at least 85 people died after flames practically leveled the city of Paradise, the AP said.
The main road, which runs along Maui’s west coast – and is also the only route to and from Lahaina – was closed to most traffic while firefighting and rescue efforts continued.
Hawaii state officials warned today that the death toll could rise as fires continue to burn and rescue teams spread out to search charred areas. The flames raged throughout the night and forced adults and children to dive into the ocean to escape them.
US President Joe Biden said last night that he had ordered “all available federal funds” to help fight the wildfires. Biden added that the Department of Transportation was working with private airlines to evacuate tourists from the island, and the Departments of the Interior and Agriculture “stand ready to support recovery efforts after the fire.”
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2023-08-10 19:31:00
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