Avoid non-essential travel to Maui, Canada says as wildfires rage
Canadians are being warned to avoid non-essential travel to Maui as wildfires continue to torch the Pacific island.
At least 36 people have died so far in the wildfires on the Hawaiian island, making it one of the deadliest U.S. wildfires in recent years.
The fires took the island by surprise when it started earlier this week; they were whipped by strong winds from Hurricane Dora passing far to the south.
The fires have left behind burned-out cars on once busy streets, and smoking piles of rubble where historic buildings had stood in Lahaina Town, which dates to the 1700s and has long been a favorite destination for tourists.
“Today we signed another emergency proclamation, which will discourage tourists from going to Maui. Even as of this morning, planes were landing on Maui with tourists. This is not a safe place to be,” Hawaii Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke told reporters Wednesday.
“We are strongly discouraging non-essential travel to Maui.”
That warning is being echoed by Canadian authorities. Global Affairs Canada issued a travel advisory Thursday warning against non-essential travel to Maui.
Air Canada, which operates one daily flight between Vancouver and Maui, told Global News in a statement Wednesday that the flight scheduled Tuesday was cancelled as the airport on the island was closed.
As winds eased somewhat on Maui, some flights resumed Wednesday, allowing pilots to view the full scope of the devastation.
Air Canada flew a larger aircraft from Vancouver on Wednesday evening to pick up those passengers left from Tuesday, as well as passengers scheduled to leave Wednesday night.
“We continuing to monitor the Maui situation very closely as the situation is evolving,” a spokesperson said.
“Air Canada has in place a
Read more on globalnews.ca
