Disaster ravages tropical Eden
LAHAINA, Hawaii, Aug 9 (Reuters) - Blazing infernos driven by gusts from a faraway storm claimed the lives of at least six people and destroyed a large part of the tourist town Lahaina on Maui island in Hawaii on Wednesday, prompting thousands to flee as some sought refuge in the sea to avoid the fire and smoke.
Many areas were reduced to ashes as the island’s west side was almost isolated with only one road open as authorities reported extensive damage to Lahaina, its port and nearby places.
According to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, official reports from aerial surveys by the U.S. Civil Air Patrol and the Maui Fire Department revealed that 271 buildings were ruined or wrecked.
“It was the most terrible calamity I’ve ever witnessed. Lahaina is completely charred.
It’s like the end of the world,” said Mason Jarvi, a Lahaina inhabitant who got out of the city.
Jarvi showed Reuters photos he snapped of the grayish devastation along the Lahaina shoreline. He wore shorts and also displayed burns on his leg that he said he got when he rode through fire on his electric bike to rescue his dog.
“It’s like a place was blasted. It’s like a battle zone,” said chopper pilot Richard Olsten, as reported by Hawaii News Now.
As firefighters fought three big fires, western Maui was off-limits to everyone except emergency personnel and evacuees.
The fires, which began Tuesday evening, also burned parts of Hawaii’s Big Island. The state said thousands of hectares were ablaze.
A message of sorrow from President Joe Biden came from the White House, applauding the firefighters and ordering “all available Federal assets on the Islands to support with response.”
The National Guard, U.S. Navy, Marines and Coast Guard were activated, while the U.S.
Department of Transportation facilitated evacuation efforts, Biden said.
Deanne Criswell, chief of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, said U.S. aid had been authorized.
The source in Maui was still unclear but the National Weather Service said the fires were fed by a blend of dry vegetation, strong winds, and low humidity.
Officials said the winds from Hurricane Dora ignited the flames across the state. The storm was about 860 miles (1,380 km) southwest of Honolulu at 11 a.m. local time (2100 GMT), the National Hurricane Center said.
A weather service wind alert remained active until Thursday morning.
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