The disastrous Maui wildfires which have destroyed the historical Hawaiian town of Lahaina in Maui Island, in the United States (US) for three days since Wednesday, August 9, 2023, have left at least 55 people dead and thousands of residents and tourists stranded while over 1,700 structures damaged.
Preliminary information indicates that, the fire is still on but about 11,000 people were moved out of the area due to the wildfires that have destroyed Lahaina town in Hawaii’s Maui Island.
According to Mason Jarvi, a local in Lahaina, blown by winds from a hurricane Dora, the Hawaiin wildfires flamed a disastrous path through countless localities leaving behind a landscape of scorched remains. Families of the Maui Island involuntarily fled the ocean for safety to find shelter as fires destroyed homes and communities throughout the night.
“We just had the worst disaster I’ve ever seen. All of Lahaina is burnt to a crisp. It’s like an apocalypse,” Jarvi revealed.
The US President Joe Biden said that it is a major disaster in the affected area of Hawaii promised support to aid in the recovery efforts.
“We’re working as quickly as possible to fight the fires and evacuate residents and tourists. Our prayers are with the people of Hawaii, but not just our prayers. Every asset we have will be available to them,” Biden said.
The Maui wildfires brought discussions about the role of climate change in exacerbating extreme weather events. The disaster serves as a sharp reminder of the necessity for disaster preparedness and climate persistence particularly in endangered regions.
The historic town of Lahaina is best known for its vibrant history and picturesque charm. Lahaina sits on Maui, a relatively small Island with limited developed area, its real estate is one of the most expensive in Hawaii.
