At least 36 people have died and numerous homes have been destroyed on Maui, in the Hawaiian archipelago. Some residents had to jump into the sea to escape the fire. Dry vegetation, high winds, and low humidity likely contributed to fueling the fire.
at least 36 people have died in the US archipelago of Hawaii.
The The island of Maui is being ravaged by several fires that have destroyed numerous homes and forced some residents to throw themselves into the sea to escape the fire and smoke, according to local authorities. An estimated 271 structures were damaged or destroyed.
Flames have engulfed numerous homes and businesses, especially in the resort town of Lahaina, on Maui’s west coast.
The Coast Guard posted on social media that a crew rescued 12 people from the water off Lahaina. The images from a drone allowed to see the magnitude of the incandescent orange flames that spread across the ground.
The fires have been aggravated by the violent winds of Hurricane Dora, that currently crosses the Pacific Ocean.
Increase in extreme events due to climate change
The cause of the fire has not been determined, but it is likely that factors such as dry vegetation and low humidity will contribute.
According to experts, the climate change is also part of the increase in these phenomena extreme weather.
This coastal town of 12,000 inhabitants experienced scenes “worthy of a horror movie“, as declared to CNN Claire Kent, a resident whose house was destroyed by fire. She described the chaos in which her town was plunged, with “people stuck in traffic jams” and “burning cars on both sides of the road”.
Maui’s hospital system is “overwhelmed” with patients suffering from burns or smoke inhalation, according to Lieutenant Governor Sylvia Luke.
