 A fire near Kohala Ranch on Big Island (Alamy) So far the fires are restricted to Maui and Big Island, two of the main islands in the state of Hawaii. On Maui, the ongoing fires have mainly affected the western side of the island, with rescue efforts hampered by power outages and disruptions to mobile phone signals. As of Thursday, August 10, the fires are still ongoing. Several neighbourhoods in Lahaina, where most of the island's hotels are located, were completely burned to the ground. The harbour area was also destroyed, and residents were relocated to shelters. There are also fires in Kihei in the southwest and Kula in the centre of the island. So far, 11,000 tourists have been evacuated. Big Island, known as Hawaii Island, is also affected by ongoing fires although the damage hasn't been as extreme as on Maui. Most of the flames have been centred around the north of the island, in particular Mauna Kea, Waimea, and North and South Kohala. Fires in these areas have mainly affected residents as it's not a key tourist resort. The relative remoteness of the areas also means that fewer people have been affected. As of Thursday, August 10, there are still mandatory evacuation orders in place and active fires. The cause of the fires has yet to be determined. However, Hawaii is currently affected by Hurricane Dora. Although the weather system is passi){kind=link}
Qin Xie
Thursday August 10 2023, 16:38pm
At least 36 people have died and several neighbourhoods have been burned to the ground by wildfires that have engulfed Maui, one of the main islands in Hawaii. The fires, which started on August 8, have been fanned by strong winds from Hurricane Dora. The historic town of Lahaina on the island’s west coast was particularly devastated, but there were also wildfires in Kihei in the southwest and Kula in the centre of the island. Fires are also affecting Hawaii’s Big Island, although to a lesser extent. If you’re travelling to the US state, here’s what you need to know.
Main photo: a wildfire burns in Lahaina, Maui (Alamy)
So far the fires are restricted to Maui and Big Island, two of the main islands in the state of Hawaii.