At least 36 people have been confirmed dead in wildfires on Hawaii’s Maui Island, officials confirmed Thursday.
“As the firefighting efforts continue, 36 total fatalities have been discovered today amid the active Lahaina fire,” said a brief official update. The wildfires were fanned by strong winds from Hurricane Dora passing far south of the state and made worse by dry conditions.
The wildfires took the island residents by surprise with the disaster leaving behind building rubble and burnt cars on what were busy streets.
Lahaina is a resort city on Maui and the largest tourist destination on the island. While some neighborhoods in the historic town were completely destroyed by the fires, adults and children jumped into the water to escape the flames. Coast Guard Lt. Elaine Simon told CBS that people had turned to water as a refuge. The Coast Guard later confirmed that they had rescued a dozen people.
“Maui can’t handle this. … A lot of people just lost their jobs because a lot of businesses burned. A lot of people lost their homes. … This is going to be devastating for Maui,” Alan Dickar, a business owner, told the outlet.
Others who escaped the disaster termed the scenario “apocalyptic.”
Hundreds of buildings have been destroyed. “Flyovers today of Lahaina town by US Civil Air Patrol and Maui Fire Department showed that more than 271 structures have been impacted,” said a press release on Aug. 9.
“Widespread damage to the West Maui town, the harbor and surrounding areas are being documented.”
Officials have issued the latest list of locations where potable water tankers are available in Upcountry: Kula Fire Station, L. Kula Hwy., and Copp Rd., Rice Park, and Crater Rd.; and in West Maui: Maui Prep, Lahaina Baseyard, and Lahaina Post Office.
They warned that people in Kula may experience low to no water pressure as “high winds and fires have damaged power lines to several of the pumping facilities.”
The county office announced that donations for Maui residents affected by fires are being accepted online.
On Aug. 9, a mass evacuation was held in Lahaina and Maui.
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