At least 36 people have died on the Hawaiian island of Maui following wildfires fanned by winds from Hurricane Doha, according to country officials. The fires have caused extensive damage on the island, including the destruction of much of the city of Lahaina. Hundreds of people were forced to take refuge in the sea to escape the flames and had to be rescued by the US Coast Guard.
Around 20 people have suffered severe burns and have been airlifted to Oahu, according to local media. Large parts of the island of Maui and the city of Lahaina have been devastated by the catastrophe. About 4,000 tourists are trying to get out of West Maui, said Ed Sniffen, an official with the Hawaii Department of Transportation.
Although at least sixteen highways are closed, Maui’s airport is operational. According to the Department of Transportation, US airlines have lowered fares and have offered initiatives to get tourists off the island. The western side of the island, including Lahaina, has been cut off with only one highway open to citizens. Multiple neighborhoods were burned and more than 271 city structures have been destroyed.
The cause of the fires has yet to be determined, but the National Weather Service said they were fueled by a mix of dry vegetation, high winds and low humidity. The fires, which started Tuesday night, also burned parts of the Big Island of Hawaii, according to the US Civil Air Patrol and the Maui Fire Department.
Evacuees have posted images on social media showing clouds of smoke hanging over the island’s characteristic beaches and palm trees. The Maui City Hall committed to rescuing the victims of the tragedy. “Our main goal now is to save lives,” Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen said at a news conference. That said, the authorities have confirmed that they are still investigating cases of people who were trapped in their cars after the disaster.
The White House issued a message of condolences from President Joe Biden, who recognized the work of the firefighters and ordered that “all available federal assets on the islands assist the cause.” The National Guard, the US Navy, the Marine Corps and the Coast Guard have been mobilized to rescue victims and stop the fires, while the US Department of Transportation is in charge of the evacuation of people Former President Barack Obama, who was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, has also posted a message on Twitter expressing his support and concern for the victims.
However, evacuation efforts have faced complications from power outages and the interruption of telephone service. According to authorities, the fires have been a tragedy for Maui and they will continue to evacuate victims.
