Wildfires in Hawaii: 36 people died in the «apocalyptic» fire on the island of Maui

Historic Lahaina Viola Church Hall and nearby Lahaina Hunwanji Mission engulfed in flames Photo: Matthew Thayer

At least 36 people have died as a result wildfires fanned by the winds of a distant hurricane in Hawaii.

Flames devastated much of the resort town of Lahaina on the Hawaiian island of Maui on Wednesday, forcing thousands of people to evacuate.

The US Coast Guard rescued a dozen people from waters near the historic city of northwest Maui, popular with tourists as they tried to escape the smoke and flames.

«People jump into the water to avoid fire,» a major general told Hawaii News Now US Army Kenneth Hara. «The Coast Guard is providing support as we speak.»

Several blocks were burned to the ground as the western side of the island was nearly cut off, and only one highway was open as officials reported widespread destruction in Lahaina. , its harbor and surroundings.

About 271 structures were damaged or destroyed, according to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser newspaper a reference to official flyover reports by the US Civil Air Patrol and the Maui Fire Department.

«It looks like the apocalypse»

“We have just survived the worst disaster I have ever seen. All of Lahaina is burned to the ground. It's like the apocalypse,” said Mason Yarvi, a Lahaina resident who fled the city.

Mr. Yarvi showed his photographs of the ash-colored devastation along Lahaina's waterfront. Wearing shorts, he also showed blisters on his thigh, which he says he got when he rode through the flames on his electric bike to save his dog.

The damage in Lahaina appears catastrophic. Photo: EPA A Baku-Kirkman employee lost her home in Lahaina along with her pets. Photo: REUTERS

“It looks like the area was bombed. It's like a war zone,» said helicopter pilot Richard Olsten, according to Hawaii News Now.

Maui County officials said at least 36 people were killed. As firefighters battled three major fires, west Maui was closed to all but rescuers and evacuees.

The fire has engulfed hundreds of acres of land and knocked out telephone lines, hampering emergency services, but it remains unclear how many people have been injured.

A huge evacuation effort is underway and rescue teams are working to get burn victims off Maui as hospitals are overwhelmed.

President Biden sent federal aid to the island, where more than 270 buildings have been affected by the fires, according to Maui officials.

Social media footage shows large flames and plumes of smoke on the shore, illuminating a dark sky in shades of deep orange and red. Debris floating in the water also caught fire.

Wildfires have reached Front Street, Laihan's popular city center. travel raffle. Photo: ALAN DICKAR/AP

Other footage shows people driving through thick smoke as flames several feet high engulfed tall buildings across the city.

“Unprecedented”

Mahina Martin, Maui County spokeswoman, said: “This is so unprecedented .

«Everyone's on deck now and we're looking forward to sunrise.»

Those not in the evacuation area are asked to take cover in place to avoid large traffic jams. , she added.

Flames and columns of smoke lit up the dark sky over the island of Maui. Photo: ZIK KALUA/COUNTY OF MAUI VIA AP

Resident Clint Hansen said the city of Lahaina was 'devastated'.

» People jump into the ocean to escape the fire, rescued by the Coast Guard. All boat owners are asked to save people. It's the apocalypse,» he told CNN.

Dangerous fire conditions

The US National Weather Service said Hurricane Dora, which passed south of the island chain, was partly to blame for wind gusts in excess of 60 mph that cut power, shook homes, and stopped fire helicopters as night fell.

Hawaii declared a state of emergency and deployed the National Guard to fight the flames.

Satellite images of the chain of islands showed smoke drifting west from the sites of two wildfires. /CIRA & NOAA)/REUTERS

Sylvia Luke, the state's lieutenant governor, told CNN that the hospital system on the island of Maui «was overburdened with burn patients and people suffering from [smoke] inhalation.»

She said: “The reality is that we need to get people out of Maui to provide them with emergency support.”

“The emergency service is not working. Cellular is not working. The telephone connection is not working. And that was part of the problem,” she added.