At least 80 people have died, and many more have been injured as a result of the severe wildfires raging in Hawaii, especially on the island of Maui. This Wednesday, the authorities proclaimed a state of emergency and requested the deployment of the National Guard in the affected area. The county's official website has updated the death toll in the last few hours.
"As the firefighting efforts continue, 36 total fatalities have been discovered today amid the active Lahaina fire," the Maui County government said in a first statement as rescue efforts increased for residents trying to flee the flames spreading along the coastal area. However, they later reported that another 17 were confirmed by midday.
Leeward areas of the state will remain under a Red Flag Warning through tonight. Stay updated with our watches, warnings, and advisories at https://t.co/ZtuCL9tVrL.
The wildfires on Maui were captured on satellite imagery as shown here. pic.twitter.com/ix1MR58DHS
— NWSHonolulu (@NWSHonolulu) August 10, 2023
Lahaina is one of the most affected towns, where some locals have been forced to flee the flames by swimming into the sea. The Coast Guard has conducted numerous rescues off the local coast.
Wildfire has engulfed businesses on Front Street in downtown Lahaina in West Maui, home to 12,000 people.
The Coast Guard is responding to people who were forced to go into the ocean due to the flames.
Video credit to Alan Dickar, a local resident of Lahaina. pic.twitter.com/8uiyHQP55B
— Colin McCarthy (@US_Stormwatch) August 9, 2023
According to official updates on the city's website, hundreds of families were displaced, and dozens of businesses burned. Late in the day, the winds died down, and helicopters began to help control the fires. Kahului Airport remains open and has accommodated more than 1,800 people overnight. Most schools are closed across the island.
Evacuations are underway across Hawaii’s Big Island and Maui as passing Hurricane Dora helps fuel wildfires that have damaged structures, spurring people jump into the ocean to escape danger, officials said. https://t.co/E1O65beDhC pic.twitter.com/NmEweZXAyi
— CNN (@CNN) August 9, 2023
Dangerous wildfires spread rapidly across Maui due to very dry conditions stemming from a drought combined with powerful trade winds whipping across Hawaii due to a strong high-pressure system to the north and an intense low-pressure system - Hurricane Dora - to the south. Hawaii's Big Island was also affected by wildfires, officials said.
