MAUI, HAWAII: Hawaii went from lush to ash in a matter of few hours after a series of deadly wildfires tore through Maui island, killing 80 people and burning most of the historic town of Lahaina.
Hawaii Governor Josh Green described the fast-moving fires as the deadliest disaster in the state's history and revealed that more than 1,000 people are still missing amid the harrowing scenes of destruction.
Five evacuation shelters have been opened in the state as firefighters continue to combat three major Maui wildfires that erupted overnight on Tuesday, August 8. Maui County officials previously confirmed that more than 14,000 residents and tourists had been evacuated from the island as of Wednesday, August 9.
On Thursday, August 10, President Biden approved a disaster declaration for Hawaii and expanded federal aid to support the desperate victims in the aftermath of the deadly Hawaiin wildfires that were exacerbated because of a set of circumstances.
Severe drought with soaring temperatures had affected parts of Maui around Lahaina for months.
The fire spread quickly, burning through the dry vegetation, and then strong hurricane winds blew the flames towards the populated areas. In some cases, residents fled into the ocean to escape the flames.
How did the Maui wildfires spread across the island?
The circumstances led to the 'perfect storm' situation. Fanned by the winds of the distant hurricane, the Hawaii wildfires exploded overnight on August 8 on Maui, a heavily populated island, which is located in the central Pacific Ocean.
It is unclear where the fires first began but from the time they started, they moved extremely quickly. The speed at which the fire in Lahaina moved on Tuesday night made it difficult for firefighters to contain the massive blaze.
As of Wednesday, August 9, the town of Lahaina appears to have been the most damaged by the Maui wildfires, with 270 buildings burnt to the ground. The Hawaii wildfires have also scorched major parts of the Big Island and Oahu, which is 187 km away from Maui, according to the Independent.
Satellite imagery showed that the Hawaii six wildfires still continue to burn on Maui and the Big Island. On Thursday, August 10, authorities restricted access to the western part of the island to only evacuees and emergency personnel, who rescued 14 people after they jumped into the water to escape flames and smoke.
Which are Hawaii's fire-affected areas?
Aerial video footage and digital maps released by NASA showed that the devastating wildfire has most affected Lahaina, Maui, and several parts of Hawaii’s big island.
The most destructive of the three fires, the one in Lahaina on the western side of the island, was 80% controlled by Thursday morning, on August 10, according to Maui County, while another one in Pulehu in the center of the island was at 70% containment.
Maui County Fire Chief Brad Ventura previously noted that none of the flames are "100% contained right now," and there are a number of smaller fires in between the large fires. There is still potential for “rapid fire behavior” with the weather and told people to remain out of the area.
Who are the Maui fire victims?
The death toll on Maui had grown to 80 people by early Saturday, August 12. The Hawaii governor previously warned that the number of wildfire victims could continue to grow as rescuers search homes and buildings.
Amid the scenes of destruction, a tragic list of Maui fire victims that have gone missing in the catastrophic wildfires in Hawaii is being circulated. Over 900 names of those who have been reported missing and discovered are listed on the spreadsheet, while most remain in the painful state of being categorized as "Not located,” according to the Mirror.
What caused the Maui wildfires?
The cause of the Maui wildfires is yet to be determined but the National Weather Service said the flames were fuelled by a mix of dry vegetation, low humidity, and deadly mountain winds, brought by Hurricane Dora.
The recent worsening of the drought is likely another factor that led to the devastating Maui wildfires. Between May and June, Maui experienced a two-category increase in drought severity, with that rapid intensification fitting the definition of a flash drought, Jason Otkin, an atmospheric scientist told Associate Press.
On Tuesday, about 16 percent of Maui County was experiencing an extreme drought, an uptick from about 5 percent the previous week, according to NY Times. Other significant factors that are fanning the Hawaii wildfires are excessive fire-prone grasses and rapid climate change.
Did Lahaina survive the Hawaii fires?
The Hawaii wildfires were most intense in the West Maui town of Lahaina, a popular tourist destination and commercial hub with a long and rich cultural history.
The authorities previously stated that much of Lahaina, where about 12,000 people live in western Maui, has turned into ashes, and hundreds of families there have been displaced.
"Lahaina Town on Maui is almost totally burnt to the ground," Senator Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii noted, adding "Firefighters are still trying to get the fires under control, and our first responders are in search and rescue mode."
Devastated aerial footage showed how the historic town, which used to be decorated with greenery, was turned into ashes after the Maui wildfires.
Mayor Richard Bissen of Maui County has said that 1,000 acres of land had been burned and more than 1,700 buildings were allegedly destroyed in fires.
Local residents describe scenes reminiscent of a warzone, with burnt-out buildings and charred trees standing as grim witnesses to the fire's destructive path.
The fatal Maui wildfires also destroyed the historic Waiola Church, which had just celebrated its 200th anniversary in March.
Lamenting the loss, Governor noted that “It is going to take many years to rebuild Lahaina. When you see the full extent of the destruction of Lahaina, it will shock you. All of those buildings, virtually, are going to have to be rebuilt. It will be a new Lahaina,” he said.