On Wednesday, a wildfire raged through the central area of Maui, one of the Hawaiian islands. This event led to the destruction of a significant portion of a town rich in history, reduced to ashes, and compelled individuals to plunge into the ocean to escape the advancing flames. The tragic outcome included a minimum of 36 deaths, numerous injuries, and the damage or complete loss of 271 structures.
The fires persisted into Wednesday afternoon, being fueled by powerful winds originating from Hurricane Dora. Pinpointing the precise cause of the disaster is still unknown, yet several factors, such as strong winds, low humidity levels, and parched vegetation, were possible contributors.
The Coast Guard successfully conducted a rescue operation, saving over a dozen individuals, including two children, who had sought refuge in the ocean to escape the fire and the thick smoke. While the fires led to the tragic loss of six lives on Maui, efforts in search and rescue remained ongoing.
In a statement, President Joe Biden affirmed that he had issued a directive to deploy “all available Federal resources” to aid Hawaii. He mentioned that the Coast Guard and Navy are actively contributing to response and rescue endeavors, and the Marines have stepped in by deploying Black Hawk helicopters to combat the ongoing fires.
While an exact count of the evacuated individuals wasn’t released, officials revealed that four shelters accommodated 2,100 people. Kahului Airport, the principal airport on Maui, provided refuge to 2,000 travelers whose flights were canceled or had recently arrived on the island. Additionally, preparations were underway to transform the Hawaii Convention Center in Honolulu into a facility capable of accommodating up to 4,000 displaced tourists and residents.
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