Wildfire roars through Hawaii’s historic Lahaina
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As the death toll from the devastating wildfires on the island of Maui, Hawaii climbs to 55, officials believe it could be the deadliest disaster in the state’s history.
On Friday morning, Hawaii Governor Josh Green said search and recovery efforts were underway for the approximately 1,000 people still unaccounted for.
So far, officials have only searched for people outside of buildings but were awaiting other support teams, including cadaver dogs, to search the interior of buildings.
Mr Green said that those unaccounted for are not presumed dead but that hundreds have been left without communications and so their safety is unclear.
“Here’s the challenge: there’s no power, no internet, no phone, no radio,” Mr Green said.
The lack of power and cellphone service may have contributed to failed alerts that were meant to warn residents of the incoming fire.
The wildfires continue to devastate Lahaina, with more than 1,700 buildings and billions of dollars in property destroyed.
Maui Mayor Richard Bissen said that the historic town has been totally wiped out.
“It’s all gone. None of it’s there. It’s all burnt to the ground,” Mr Bissen said.
Is it safe to travel to Hawaii?
The Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) has said: “Non-essential travel to Maui is strongly discouraged at this time. Visitors currently on Maui for non-essential travel reasons are being asked to leave the island as rescue and recovery efforts continue.”
The HTA added: “Currently, travel is still welcomed to the island of Hawaii. Visitors are encouraged to contact their hotel accommodations provider and airlines for updates that could affect their stay on island.”
Benjamin Parker reports:
Why the wildfire loss of Lahaina’s banyan tree is so devastating
As wildfires tore through the Hawaiian Island of Maui this week, not even the famed banyan tree could be spared from the raging flames.
The beloved tree, which has stood at the centre of the historic town of Lahaina for more than 150 years, was left scorched and charred beyond recognition, images showing its blackened branches and trunks among the embers.
But, despite the damage, for now, the tree is still standing.
For many years, the iconic tree along the Lahaina town’s Front Street served as a gathering place.
Faiza Saqib reports:
Residents of Lahaina will be permitted to return on Friday
Hawaii governor Josh Green said residents of Lahaina – the town on Maui ravaged by wildfires this past week – will be allowed to return on Friday, 11 August.
“They will see destruction like they’ve not ever seen in their lives,” Mr Green told local news outlet KHON 2.
People can expect an announcement from Maui mayor Richard Bissen about how residents can return home and if there will be a curfew.
Terrified residents make desperate escape in apocalyptic scenes
These shocking scenes show terrified residents attempting to make their desperate escape from the wildfires in Lahaina, Hawaii.
The footage captured by Bosco Bae Jr resembles scenes from Hollywood movies as people try to escape falling trees, burning buildings, and flying ash all around.
The footage comes as the Mayor of Maui, Richard Bissen revealed the historic town has been totally wiped out by wildfires, stating: “It’s all gone.”
The death toll from the devastating wildfires on the island of Maui, Hawaii, has now climbed to 55 – as officials warned that the loss of life is expected to rise further.
Lucy Leeson reports:
Hawaii fires: Terrified residents make desperate escape in apocalyptic scenes
These shocking scenes show terrified residents attempting to make their desperate escape from the wildfires in Lahaina, Hawaii. The footage captured by Bosco Bae Jr resembles scenes from Hollywood movies as people try to escape falling trees, burning buildings, and flying ash all around. The footage comes as the Mayor of Maui, Richard Bissen revealed the historic town has been totally wiped out by wildfires, stating: “It’s all gone.” The death toll from the devastating wildfires on the island of Maui, Hawaii, has now climbed to 55 – as officials warned that the loss of life is expected to rise further.
Maui resident describes tragic scene from Lahaina
A resident of Maui described a horrifying scene on the island in the wake of the wildfires that burned through towns and neighbourhoods this past week.
“This is not even the worst of it,” Kekoa Lansford, a resident of Lahaina told BBC on Thursday.
“We still got dead bodies in the water floating and on the seawall, they’ve been sitting there since last night,” Mr Lansford said.
Mr Lansford said he felt like the town was not getting the help it needed.
On Friday, officials toured Lahaina while teams of people began recovery efforts.
More than 14,000 visitors left Maui
On Thursday, approximately 14,900 visitors left the island of Maui after wildfires tore through neighbourhoods and towns.
The County of Maui said in an update, posted to Facebook, that the visitors left on flights departing out of the Kahului Airport in Maui.
Twenty-five buses have been operating as a shuttle service from 8.30am until 5pm to pick up visitors from hotels to the airport.
‘No indication’ warning sirens sounded before wildfires, report says
Residents in Maui claim they were not warned of the fast-moving wildfire that killed at least 55 people and displaced thousands of others this past week.
While officials say they sent out alerts, a new report from Associated Press indicates that the Hawaii Emergency Management records show “no indication that warning sirens sounded before people ran for their lives.”
Officials sent alerts to cell phones, televisions and radio stations – however, the area was experiencing “widespread” power and cellphone outages.
Man relives ‘screams of horror’ as he spent three hours in ocean trying to escape
Maui residents recounted hearing “screams of horror” as wildfires engulfed areas of the Hawaiian island.
Residents of Lahaina, a resort town on the island, were told to jump into the ocean as flames approached the town.
Ydriss Nouara told Sky News that police told him to jump into the sea as they could not rescue him from the encroaching flames.
“The ocean was pulling us, we had debris falling on us, we were trying to get wet and not burn,” Nouara said, adding he was in the water for around three hours before being rescued.
Vice President says she will not visit Hawaii yet
Vice President Kamala Harris told reporters on Friday that she and President Joe Biden are monitoring the wildfire disaster in Hawaii but do not plan to visit yet so they do not take away resources.
“We don’t want to distract from the resources that need to go in to the victims of the tragedy, and of course the needs of the first responders have to be able to focus on that issue and not perry about focusing on us,” Ms Harris said.
She added that she and Mr Biden are “deeply concerned” about what is happening in Maui.
“We are coordinating federal resources to swiftly get there to support the work that has to be done,” Ms Harris said.
Governor of Hawaii and mayor of Maui visit remains of Lahaina
Mayor Richard Bissen walks past the remains of the Sugar Cane Train depot in Lahaina, Hawaii,
Hawaii Governor Josh Green, left, and Mayor Richard Bissen walk past the burned remains along Front Street in Lahaina
https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiYWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmluZGVwZW5kZW50LmNvLnVrL2NsaW1hdGUtY2hhbmdlL25ld3MvbWF1aS1maXJlcy1oYXdhaWktd2lsZGZpcmVzLWNhdXNlLWIyMzkxNzIxLmh0bWzSAQA?oc=5
2023-08-11 21:00:00Z
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