Terrifying images show the magnitude of the damage in Lahaina, the Maui town that was completely torched by wildfires on August 8. The death toll from the Hawaiian wildfires has reached 93 people with dozens injured and hundreds still missing.Hell on Earth. New video: Lahaina residents hug the shoreline in an effort to escape the raging inferno. They were there for several hours. (Video by Denny Yuckert) pic.twitter.com/cg4dBoEDzV
— Mike Sington (@MikeSington) August 15, 2023
Local officials still do not know the exact origin of the fire, which was spread rapidly by strong winds from Hurricane Dora. Those winds, along with dry conditions and low humidity, spelled disaster for residents – many of whom only had minutes to escape certain death.
As officials evaluate the damage, many residents are still looking for their loved ones. "We woke up and got on our phones to see pictures of our house down to (the) slab. Nothing but smoke and cinders," one stunned local stated.
"We are still in life preservation mode. Search and rescue is still a primary concern," Adam Weintraub, a spokesperson for Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, said on August 10. According to Weintraub, search and rescue teams won't be able to access particular areas until the fire lines are secure and they are sure they can get to those areas safely.
🚨🚨 I’m being told there is a TWELVE MILE “MEDIA FREE ZONE” around Lahaina, Maui where the “wildfires” struck
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) August 15, 2023
WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON??
I’m flying in TOMORROW.
I’ll let them put me in JAIL before I’ll obey an unconstitutional “MEDIA FREE ZONE”
Don’t believe me? Try me.… pic.twitter.com/slJZaxCYwM