Maui Wildfire Kills Six; Thousands Force To Evacuate

The destructive wildfires that engulfed areas in Maui have claimed the lives of at least six individuals and prompted the massive evacuation of residents.

(Photo : Pexels/Lukas Rodriguez)

Citing information from Mayor Richard Bissen Jr., a CNN report said that authorities are already conducting search and rescue operations to ensure the safety of affected residents. Around 2,000 individuals were forced to stay in shelters across the island.

There were also people who had to be rescued from the ocean and two of them were children.

To recall, the ravaging fires struck the island on Tuesday, with authorities saying that the blaze was too fast to spread. Officials were saying that the wildfires were partly fueled by the powerful and violent winds caused by Hurricane Dora as it passed over Hawaii.

The blaze had brought extensive damage to residences and business facilities, forced communication services to shut down, and relocated residents near the oceans so that they will be saved from getting burned.

As they exhaust all measures to curb the flames, authorities have already used helicopters so that water could be dropped over the affected areas in Maui Island. At present, local officials are not yet providing information about the extent of damage brought by the wildfires.

Bissen said they have to wait until the blaze is already put out.

Read Also: Maui Beach Coastal Erosion Takes Down Sidewalk, Trees

Towns burnt to ash, people jump into ocean

A report on the Associated Press said that the death toll could still rise amid these wildfires. Some people were also reported to be injured.

Much of the affected towns were brought to ash and some residents were even forced to jump into the oceans in order to save their lives from the wild blaze.

Videos of the coastal Lahaina had shown that a number of houses and business establishments were flattened, including the Front Street, an area where tourists and travelers flock to shop and dine.

Furthermore, piles of rubble were seen next to the waterfront, with scorched boats in the harbor's corner and gray smoke hovering over the skeletons of the charred trees.

In the official website of Lahaina, it was stated that even pets have died in the area. The Kahului Airport (OGG) is still open and accommodated over 1,800 people overnight.

Officials have prohibited the traffic going into Lahaina, with no electric supply across almost everywhere on the west side. Meanwhile, traffic going out of Lahaina through the bypass is allowed.

Cause of the wildfires

Fire authorities are yet to determine the main reason behind the wildfires. However, they are already considering other factors aside from the fueling of Hurricane Dora.

Some possible reasons for the wildfires' massive spread are the low humidity and dry vegetation, according to Hawaii State Department of Defense Major General Kenneth Hara.

Scientists are also looking at the climate change which could have triggered the wildfires.

Oregon Climate Change Research Institute Director Erica Fleishman said in the Associated Press report that climate change across the globe has caused the increase in vegetation dryness because temperatures are getting hotter.

Fleishman pointed out that even with the same amount of precipitation, things tend to dry out at a faster pace because of the high temperatures.

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