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.
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."
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.
"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.
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"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.