DEADLY BLAZE
Maui wildfire death toll rises to 36 with hundreds of buildings torched as historic Hawaii town is ‘wiped off the map’
AT least 36 people have died and hundreds of homes and businesses have been torched as wildfires on Hawaii's island of Maui devastate the region.
The wildfires broke out on Tuesday morning as Hurricane Dora stirred up intense winds from hundreds of miles south in the Pacific Ocean.
7
7
7
At least 36 people have now been confirmed dead following the raging wildfires in Maui, according to .
The news outlet reports that "authorities fear that number could rise as emergency responders slowly move into fire-ravaged areas."
A press release from Maui County reads: "As the firefighting efforts continue, 36 total fatalities have been discovered today amid the active Lahaina fire.
"No other details are available at this time."
Residents were forced to jump into the ocean to escape the raging flames, which have left over 270 structures damaged or destroyed.
The historic town of Lahaina has been flattened as Brian Schatz, a US senator from the state said it is "almost totally burnt to the ground."
More than 2,100 people have been displaced and have sought safety at shelters that have opened due to the fires.
Lieutenant Governor Sylvia Luke said on Wednesday that some of the centers were "overrun."
Most read in The Sun
It is estimated that around 13,000 people are without power, according to PowerOutage.us.
Luke that Maui's hospital system "was overburdened with burn patients, people suffering from inhalation."
Burn patients were being flown from Maui to Oahu, reported.
"The reality is that we need to fly people out of Maui to give them burn support," Luke said.
"911 is down. Cell service is down. Phone service is down. And that's been part of the problem."
DESTROYED AND DISPLACED
Lahaina, a town of about 12,000 that draws tourists, has been devastated by the fires.
The flames forced people to seek refuge in the ocean on Wednesday as the blaze and smoke grew.
The Coast Guard told CBS News that 12 people jumped in the water and were rescued in Lahaina.
Governor Josh Green said in a statement that the town "has been destroyed and hundreds of local families have been displaced."
Meanwhile, Hawaii's Emergency Management Agency said that 13 areas in the County of Maui were evacuated, and more than 2,600 customers remained without power as of Wednesday.
Residents were also being asked to conserve water as firefighters continued to battle the fires.
Local leaders are warning against non-essential travel to the island at this time.
Luke said tourists were arriving on Maui as of Wednesday morning, but urged them to stay away.
Roads into West Maui and Lahaina were all closed on Wednesday morning.
"This is not a safe place to be," Luke said.
"We have resources that are being taxed."
As of Wednesday afternoon at 4pm local time, the Hawaii Department of Transportation was working on a mass evacuation of visitors.
"Due to limited resources in this time of crisis, visitors with vehicles or any means of transportation are being asked to leave Lahaina and Maui as soon as possible," the statement read.
Tourists are being shuttled to Kahului Airport where seats are available on outgoing flights.
'UTTER DEVASTATION'
Residents and reporters have been sharing images from the island, while others watch the fires burn from afar.
"Utter devastation left by the wildfires in Maui, Hawaii. It is far from hyperbole to say that Lahaina has been wiped off the map," one person alongside drone footage from the fires.
"Lahaina Town on Maui is almost totally burnt to the ground. Firefighters are still trying to get the fires under control, and our first responders are in search and rescue mode," Senator Brian Schatz said.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
"Brings tears to my eye thinking about the beautiful people of Maui impacted by this tragedy," a concerned onlooker tweeted.
"Absolutely devastating. Spent my honeymoon there - I still cook dinners from the Longhi's cookbook. Heartbroken for families there," another person wrote.
7
7
7
7
Topics