Dozens of People Confirmed Dead Due to Maui Wildfire

Posted: August 10, 2023 3:00 pm

A fire raging on the Hawaiian island of Maui is responsible for killing at least 36 people and injuring dozens more. The economic and cultural hub of Lahaina is ground zero for the destruction with officials saying that the town has been nearly destroyed. Here is the latest on this dire situation.

Latest on the Maui Wildfires

Maui County officials warn that the death toll could climb considerably as search and rescue crews sift through what is left of Lahaina. Hawaii Gov. Josh Green said that hundreds of families have been displaced from their homes as a result of the fires. In addition, much of the island is still without power, making communication sparse.

The hospitals on Maui were quickly overwhelmed with burn patients and individuals dealing with the impacts of smoke inhalation. Many patients have been transferred to the bigger island of Oahu because the facilities on Maui are not equipped to deal with severe burns. The fires are not close to being contained, however, more favorable weather conditions are giving crews hope that they can make progress on bringing them under control soon.

The Coast Guard noted that it rescued over 50 people from the waters of the Pacific Ocean as they fled the flames in Lahaina. Initial reports detail that approximately 100 people rushed into the water to escape. The Coast Guard is still searching for possible survivors of victims in the water.

Root Cause of Wildfire

Conditions have also been particularly dry in this part of Maui lately. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, the level of severe drought in Maui County jumped from 5% last week to 16% over the last few days. The moderate drought levels across all of the islands increased from 6% to 14% in just one week.

The dry vegetation and the high winds have created the perfect storm. Lastly, the unique terrain of Maui makes it easier for fires to spread at a faster speed. Complicating the containment issue is that the remote chain of islands does not have the availability of fire fighting resources when compared to the U.S mainland.

Maui is not the only Hawaiian island to have been impacted by wildfires in recent days. The Big Island is also dealing with these fires. The fires are being blamed on the winds associated with Hurricane Dora, spinning hundreds of miles to the south in the Pacific Ocean.

While the hurricane is not going to make a direct strike on the islands, the sheer size of the feature means that the winds are reaching distances far away from the storm’s eye.

President Biden Approves Disaster Declaration

U.S. President Joe Biden has approved a disaster declaration for the state, freeing up federal resources to help with the state and local recovery plan. This financial assistance encompasses items such as grants for temporary housing and loans to cover property losses for the uninsured.

The White House also confirmed that it has deployed FEMA personnel and other military resources. Gov. Green said that he estimates that there will be “billions of dollars of structural damage.”

Travel Plans Severely Impacted

Tourists are being urged to leave Maui as soon as possible. Some airlines have added more flights on bigger planes to transport people off of the island. According to the Hawaii Department of Transportation, over 11,000 people flew off the island on Wednesday alone.

Officials are asking those with immediate travel plans to Maui to postpone or change the plans, noting that all resources need to be diverted to helping the locals. Hotel rooms are also needed to house residents that have been displaced.

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