Fires are raging on the U.S. islands of Hawaii and Maui in the Hawaiian archipelago. The New York Times wrote about the chaotic evacuations. “Hospitals are overloaded with patients suffering from burns or smoke inhalation,” said Lieutenant Governor Sylvia Luke. Thousands of homes are without electricity. Six people are dead, officials said.
Winds associated with Hurricane Dora, which passes over the Pacific Ocean near Hawaii, contributed to the spread of the fires. The fire destroyed many buildings, including in the resort of Lahaina on the island of Maui.
Chaotic evacuations are underway, the situation being hampered by gusty winds that have blocked roads, the New York Times reported. The American Red Cross opened an evacuation center at Maui High School.
A group of western Maui residents who swam too far offshore to escape the fire were rescued by the coastguard.
People with burns and smoke poisoning, thousands of homes without electricity
State Lieutenant Governor Sylvia Luke said hospitals were overloaded with patients suffering burns or smoke inhalation.
More than 15,000 homes across the archipelago are without electricity, mobile phones are down, and Maui County authorities are unable to communicate with residents, the lieutenant governor said.
Police and emergency services are supported by the National Guard, which has been put on alert.
Hawaii fires seen from a droneReuters, Clint Hansen of Maui Real Estate Radio/TMX
“It’s unprecedented”
“The fact that we now have fires in many places is a consequence of the hurricane and it’s unprecedented,” Luke said.
According to the forecasts cited by “NYT”, the wind should partially subside on Wednesday, at the end of the day, local time (Thursday morning in Poland).
Hurricane Dora was about 1,300 kilometers southwest of Hawaii on Wednesday morning local time, the US National Hurricane Center (NHC) said. The element is supposed to move westwards without directly threatening any land.
Main photo source: Reuters, Clint Hansen of Maui Real Estate Radio/TMX