(Reuters) – Fires fueled by strong winds from Hurricane Dora ravaged parts of Hawaii’s Maui and Big Island on Wednesday, resulting in evacuations and transforming popular tourist spots into blazing infernos.
According to a press release from Maui County, some Maui residents sought refuge in the ocean to escape the smoke and flames, prompting the U.S. Coast Guard to conduct rescue operations. The American Red Cross opened an evacuation center at Maui High School.
While official figures on casualties and property damage were limited at the early hours of Wednesday morning, distressed residents fleeing the fires shared videos and photos on social media that showcased apocalyptic scenes of smoke enveloping once idyllic beaches and palm trees.
This situation in Hawaii mirrored the devastation witnessed in other parts of the world this summer, where record-breaking heat contributed to wildfires in countries like Greece, Spain, Portugal, and across Europe, resulting in the evacuation of tens of thousands of people.
Scientists have warned that human-induced climate change, primarily driven by the use of fossil fuels, is intensifying the frequency and severity of extreme weather events. They have long urged officials to take immediate action to reduce emissions and avert a climate catastrophe.
The National Weather Service attributed the current wildfires to a combination of factors, including dry vegetation, strong winds, and low humidity. The University of Hawaii revealed that large fires are almost an annual occurrence in certain parts of the Hawaiian archipelago, although the extent of the current fires is unusual.
By Tuesday night, hundreds of acres had already been consumed by the flames, leading to road closures and the shutdown of schools in Hawaii and Maui Counties. Acting Hawaii Governor Sylvia Luke issued an emergency proclamation in response to the situation.
The proclamation stated that fires had wrecked parts of Lahaina, a residential and tourist area with a commercial district in West Maui, as well as Kula, a residential area in the inland and mountainous Upcountry region.
By early Wednesday, all roads into and within Lahaina Town had been closed by Maui County. Only emergency workers and evacuees were allowed in the area, including Kahekili Highway, as reported on the county’s social media platforms.
As a precautionary measure, Maui County officials relocated several evacuation sites away from Lahaina and other fire-affected areas, including the Maui High School.
According to Maui County spokesperson Mahina Martin, fires were also impacting Kihei, a South Maui locality known for its mix of residential homes, condos, short-term rentals, and visitor amenities.
Officials stated that the winds from Hurricane Dora had driven the fires across the entire state of Hawaii. As of 5 a.m. local time, the National Hurricane Center reported that Hurricane Dora was approximately 795 miles south-southwest of Hawaii.
Gale warnings remained in effect for all the Hawaiian islands, with the National Weather Service’s Honolulu forecast office predicting high winds of up to 45 mph and gusts reaching 60 mph.
The National Weather Service in Hawaii also issued a “red flag warning” to notify residents of conditions conducive to the ignition and spread of fires in most leeward areas of all Hawaiian Islands as of 3 a.m. local time on Wednesday.
(Reporting by Rich McKay, Brendan O’Brien, and Julia Harte; Editing by Aurora Ellis)
Credit: The Star : News Feed
