Hawaiians are forced to jump into the ocean to escape fires on the island of Maui; there are 6 dead – The NY Journal

A series of wind-fed wildfires have raged on the Hawaiian island of Maui, resulting in the loss of 6 lives and widespread destruction.

The flames forced residents and tourists to flee as flames and smoke engulfed the area, while rescue efforts and evacuation attempts are still ongoing.

The island’s mayor and officials are dealing with the aftermath, coordinating rescue operations and providing support to those affected by the disaster.

At least six people lost their livesafter wildfires swept through Maui, leaving destruction in their wake.

Maui Mayor Richard Bissen expressed the gravity of the situation, noting that the death toll may rise as search and rescue operations continue, CBS reports.

The mayor provided few details about the circumstances surrounding the deaths, stressing that the focus remains on locating and helping those affected by the blazes.

The ferocity of the wildfires prompted more than 2,100 people to seek refuge in five shelters set up across the island, including in the ocean.

Power outages were widespread, affecting both shelters and several hotels. Acting Governor Sylvia Luke urged tourists to avoid reaching the island, emphasizing the dangerous conditions caused by the fires, the news network reports.

“This is not a safe place to be,” while sharing concerns about the strain on resources and the overwhelmed hospital system, Luke added.

For its part, Maui County tweeted that several roads were closed with a warning: “DO NOT go to the city of Lahaina.” Traffic has been very heavy as people try to evacuate and authorities have asked people not in an evacuation area to shelter in place to avoid increasing traffic, Maui County spokeswoman Mahina Martin said. to PA.