Originally published August 10, 2023 6:00 am PDT
The once-picturesque resort town of Lahaina is now a tragic scene, with flames reducing historic buildings to ash and residents frantically escaping an unexpected catastrophe.
Maui County reported late Wednesday that the wildfires have claimed 36 lives, a significant increase from the earlier count of six.
The wildfires, intensified by strong gusts from Hurricane Dora situated far to the south, caught Maui off guard.
As the flames raced through Lahaina, horrified residents fled to the ocean to evade the fire.
The U.S. Coast Guard played a crucial role in rescuing at least a dozen individuals from the sea as the suddenness and scale of the disaster overwhelmed local emergency services.
Kamuela Kawaakoa, who managed to reach an evacuation center with his family, lamented, “It was so hard to sit there and just watch my town burn to ashes and not be able to do anything.”
He added, “I was helpless.”
With the fires still raging, 271 buildings have either been destroyed or sustained damage, and dozens are injured.
Authorities continue with a substantial search and rescue mission for several missing individuals.
Evacuation centers are brimming with refugees; five shelters opened on Maui are now overflowing.
Hawaii’s Lt Governor, Sylvia Luke, urgently warned, “This is not a safe place to be. We have resources that are being taxed.”
President Biden promptly deployed “all available Federal assets” to help mitigate the wildfire’s impact.
In a statement, he expressed, “Jill and I send our deepest condolences to the families of those who lost loved ones in the wildfires in Maui, and our prayers are with those who have seen their homes, businesses, and communities destroyed.”
He praised the relentless efforts of the firefighters and first responders, saying, “We are grateful to the brave firefighters and first responders who continue to run toward danger, putting themselves in harm’s way to save lives.”
Additionally, President Biden noted the involvement of the U.S. Coast Guard, the Navy Third Fleets, the Hawaiian National Guard’s Chinook Helicopters, and the Army’s Black Hawk Helicopters in both firefighting and rescue operations.
He emphasized that federal departments, including Transportation, Interior, and Agriculture, are actively coordinating responses, from evacuating tourists to post-fire recovery.
The president’s final call to the residents was clear: “stay alert” and adhere to evacuation guidelines.
