‘Apocalyptic’ Maui wildfires kill 6, force others to jump into the sea to escape
The out-of-control wildfires on the Hawaiian island of Maui have killed at least six people and injured dozens more, while others were forced to jump into the ocean to escape.
Flames have ripped through historic Lahaina town, an area popular with tourists, destroying hundreds of homes and businesses, but there is little the overwhelmed island can do to fight back the fires.
“911 is down. Cell service is down. Phone service is down,” Hawaii Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke told CNN on Wednesday morning, adding that the island’s hospital system is “overburdened with burn patients, people suffering from (smoke) inhalation.”
Official details on the extent of casualties and building damages were scant early on Wednesday morning, but panicked residents fleeing the flames posted videos and photos on social media showing apocalyptic clouds of smoke billowing up over formerly once-idyllic beaches and palm trees.
The situation in Hawaii mirrored scenes of devastation elsewhere in the world this summer, as wildfires caused by record-setting heat forced the evacuation of tens of thousands of people in Greece, Spain, Portugal, and other parts of Europe.
Is it unknown at this point how much of Lahaina has been decimated, but Hawaii News Now reports that the damage is extensive and residents describe the scene as “apocalyptic.”
Aerial video taken of the seaside town on Wednesday morning showed large parts of the town burned to the ground.
Strong winds from Hurricane Dora, passing by the island approximately 800 kilometres away, are fanning the fire’s flames, causing the inferno to quickly rip through buildings and dry brush.
Videos shared on social media Tuesday night painted a terrifying scene, as walls of flames moved in on Front Street in
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