Hundreds of houses destroyed – Six dead in wildfires in Hawaii – News

• The bush and forest fires in the US state of Hawaii claim at least six lives. This was confirmed by Maui County Mayor Richard Bisson.
• The governor of Hawaii, Josh Green, spoke of a “terrible catastrophe” in the holiday paradise.
• The fires are raging on the island of Maui and Hawaii, the largest island in the state of the same name.

The rescue work was still ongoing, Bisson emphasized. The “heroic” efforts of the emergency services prevented many casualties, but “some loss of life” must be expected, officials said. According to Green, large parts of the city of Lahaina on Maui have been destroyed.

Hundreds of families lost their homes. Several people were taken to hospital with burns and smoke inhalation, and at least six people died.

State of emergency declared – National Guard mobilized

A state of emergency has been declared for the two counties of Maui and Hawaii. This will mobilize the Hawaii National Guard to assist responders in affected communities. Hurricane Dora, which is passing south of the US state’s islands, is partly responsible for the rapidly spreading fires, according to the authorities.

“The fact that we have wildfires in several areas that are indirectly attributable to a hurricane is unprecedented. It’s something Hawaiians and the state have never experienced,” Maui Deputy Governor Sylvia Luke told CNN.