Emmanuel OchayiWind-driven wildfires have wreaked havoc on Lahaina, a picturesque resort town located on Hawaii’s Maui island, resulting in the tragic loss of at least 36 lives.
The calamity unfolded in the midst of Hurricane Dora’s powerful winds, transforming Lahaina into what residents are describing as an “apocalyptic” scene.
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This devastating incident, which occurred earlier this week, has now emerged as one of the deadliest wildfire episodes the United States has witnessed in recent years. Tragically, the death toll is anticipated to increase as rescue and search teams tirelessly comb through the ravaged areas.
The fires which sparked on Tuesday, have imperiled more than 35,000 individuals on Maui, including homes, businesses, and essential utilities.
Some residents were compelled to plunge into the ocean in a desperate attempt to evade the rapidly spreading flames.
Heart-wrenching visuals shared on social media depicted Lahaina’s core engulfed in flames, sending voluminous clouds of black smoke billowing into the sky.
This disaster has led to extensive damage, with over 270 structures either harmed or obliterated in Lahaina.
In a show of solidarity, former US President Barack Obama, who hails from Hawaii, shared a link to a disaster relief fund on the social media platform, X.
“It’s tough to see some of the images coming out of Hawaii – a place that’s so special to so many of us,” Obama wrote, adding that he and former first lady Michelle Obama were “thinking of everyone who has lost a loved one, or whose life has been turned upside down.”
Responding to the gravity of the situation, current US President, Joe Biden, declared a major disaster in Hawaii, authorizing the dispatch of federal assistance to the afflicted state.
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