Three days after the disaster, it remained unclear whether some residents had received any warning before the fire engulfed their homes. Read more at straitstimes.com.
MAALAEA, Hawaii - Hawaiian officials on Friday were still trying to determine what caused a deadly wildfire to sweep through Lahaina on Maui island with terrifying speed,The death toll was expected to rise as search teams combed through the charred ruins of the town with the aid of cadaver dogs, after the fire torched 1,000 buildings and left thousands homeless in what officials say is the worst natural disaster in the state’s history.
Officials have not offered a detailed picture of precisely what notifications were sent out, and whether they were done via text message, email or phone calls. County Mayor Richard Bissen told NBC’s Today show on Friday that he did not know whether sirens went off but said the fire moved extraordinarily quickly.The disaster began unfolding just after midnight on Tuesday when a brush fire was reported in the town of Kula, roughly 55km from Lahaina. About five hours later that morning, power was knocked out in Lahaina, according to residents.
In the ensuing hours, the county posted a series of evacuation orders on Facebook as the fire spread through the town. “This is the nightmare scenario,” said Mr Rumbach, a former urban planning professor at the University of Hawaii. “A fast-moving fire in a densely populated place with difficult communications, and not a lot of good options in terms of evacuations.”Many of those who escaped the blaze suffered burns, smoke inhalation and other injuries.
County officials said Lahaina residents would be allowed to return to check on their properties on Friday afternoon, but that a 10pm curfew would be enforced. Much of Maui’s western side remained without power and water.Three Marriott hotels in West Maui were closed due to power outages, and guests have evacuated the properties, according to a company spokesman. In all, some 11,000 homes and businesses were without power on Friday, according to Poweroutage.us.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Tourists asked to leave Hawaii’s Maui as wildfires burnBefore the wildfires, the tourism economy was recovering from a pandemic-induced visitor slump. Read more at straitstimes.com.
Read more »
Hawaii’s Maui wildfires death toll rises to 53Thousands of people have fled the area into emergency shelters and off the island. Read more at straitstimes.com.
Read more »
Biden expands US aid for Hawaii as wildfires grip MauiWASHINGTON: President Joe Biden expanded federal aid for Hawaii on Thursday (Aug 10) as deadly wildfires engulfed the island of Maui, and he expressed condolences for the devastation in a call with the state's gover
Read more »
Biden expands US aid for Hawaii as wildfires grip MauiHe expresses condolences for the devastation in a call with the state’s governor. Read more at straitstimes.com.
Read more »
Maui wildfire death toll rises to 55 as search for victims gears upKAHULUI: Firefighters on Friday (Aug 11) battled stubborn wildfires which killed at least 55 people on the Hawaiian island of Maui and left a historic beachfront town a charred ruin.
Read more »
Incendios de Maui calcinan zonas turísticas de Hawái y causan al menos seis muertesPor Marco Garcia, Rich McKay y Julia HarteKAHULUI, HAWAI, 9 ago : Los incendios forestales avivados por los vientos de un lejano huracán devastaban el miércoles la isla hawaiana de Maui, causando la muerte de al menos seis personas y obligando a turistas y residentes a huir de destinos turísticos que s
Read more »