- Wildfires have been fiercely burning across Hawaii this week, fueled by winds from Hurricane Dora.
- In some parts of Maui, 911 service and landlines are down, and the death toll has reached 89.
- Lieutenant Governor Sylvia Luke has described the current situation in Hawaii as “unprecedented.”
Authorities have confirmed that at least 89 people have tragically lost their lives due to the devastating wildfire that swept through a Hawaiian town.
Since Tuesday, the catastrophic wildfires have wreaked havoc on Maui and the big island of Hawaii, obliterating homes and forcing desperate residents to seek refuge in the ocean. In light of these unprecedented circumstances, Lieutenant Governor Sylvia Luke has urged President Joe Biden to declare a federal emergency, as reported by CNN.
Initially, a brief statement released by Maui County on Wednesday night reported 36 deaths without providing further details. However, the death toll has now risen to 89, according to Hawaii Governor Josh Green’s remarks during a press conference on Saturday. Governor Green also warned that the number of fatalities is expected to increase further.
The fierce winds generated by Hurricane Dora, situated approximately 500 miles away from the Hawaiian islands, have posed significant challenges in efforts to contain the fires, as confirmed by the Maui Emergency Management Agency (EMA).
Lieutenant Governor Luke expressed her astonishment at the unprecedented situation of wildfires spreading across multiple areas indirectly triggered by a hurricane, a scenario unseen in Hawaii before, during her interview with CNN on Wednesday morning.
According to a tweet by the EMA, 13 areas of the county have been evacuated, and over 2,000 people are still without power.
Mourning the loss of the Lāhainā Banyan Tree, one of the largest banyan trees in the country and estimated to be 150 years old, social media users shared unverified accounts of the tree being consumed by the fires, leaving many feeling devastated.
Videos capturing the intense devastation caused by the fires have circulated on various social media platforms, including footage of smoke-filled skies and massive fires burning dangerously close to residential areas.
In response to the crisis, Maui County has arranged for buses to transport residents to shelters and directed visitors and tourists to the Kahului Airport for their safety.
The current containment status of the fires is as follows: Lāhainā fire approximately 80% contained, Pulehu fire about 70% contained, and no update available yet regarding the upcountry Maui fires, according to a recent report by Maui County. The fires have impacted over 270 structures, as observed during flyovers conducted by the Civil Air Patrol.
Insider’s attempts to reach out to the Maui County Fire Department and the lieutenant governor’s office for comments have not received an immediate response.
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