We’re closing the blog, but will continue to provide news updates on our home page. Here’s what we’ve covered so far today:

“,”elementId”:”3e970f63-35bb-4669-8609-cbfe92fb004a”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

n

• At least 36 people have died in the ferocious wildfires across Hawaii, which have devastated the historic town of Lahaina. Some areas remain inaccessible to search and rescue teams, as fire crews fight to contain the fires. The flames were fanned by strong winds from Hurricane Dora.

n

• California, which has experienced several devastating megafires in recent years, is sending specialized search and rescue team members to help find survivors and manage fatalities.

n

• About 11,000 people remained without power and phone service in parts of Maui, and Hawaiian Electric, the main power company in Hawaii, said extended outages are expected.

n

• Hundreds of additional tourists were being evacuated Thursday, and officials have strongly discouraged visitors from coming into Hawaii. Some 1,800 people spent the night in the airport on Wednesday, according to Hawaii’s Department of transportation.

n

“,”elementId”:”3c1def0c-3e57-4094-8093-dbcf9f302e5a”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement”,”url”:”https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/aug/10/hawaii-fire-kills-people-lahaina-town-maui”,”text”:”Desperate search for survivors in Maui after 36 people die in Hawaii fires”,”prefix”:”Related: “,”role”:”thumbnail”,”elementId”:”309885e9-2f75-40f0-bfff-ae54bbf80c1d”}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”abstract”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1691705091000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”18.04 EDT”,”blockLastUpdated”:1691706251000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”18.24 EDT”,”blockFirstPublished”:1691705989000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”18.19 EDT”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”18.19″,”title”:”What we all know thus far”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Thu 10 Aug 2023 18.24 EDT”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First printed on Thu 10 Aug 2023 05.46 EDT”},{“id”:”64d54c5d8f089cdb327cd70b”,”parts”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

The climate crisis, driven by fossil fuel use, is increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, including wildfires like the ones Maui is grappling with.

“,”elementId”:”439eb5e7-39c6-451a-b010-c1950fafe1d7″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Clay Trauernicht, a fire scientist at the University of Hawaii, said the wet season could spur plants like Guinea grass, an invasive species found across parts of Maui, to grow as quickly as 6in (15cm) a day and reach up to 10ft (3 meters) tall. That grass creates a tinderbox that’s ripe for wildfire as it dries out.

“,”elementId”:”2d32691e-bd89-4bbc-bf4e-71c36d995031″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

“These grasslands accumulate fuels very rapidly,” Trauernicht said. “In hotter conditions and drier conditions, with variable rainfall, it’s only going to exacerbate the problem.”

“,”elementId”:”d87d6188-fd2d-401b-8579-58d68126ed81″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Climate change not only increases the fire risk by driving up temperatures, but also makes stronger hurricanes more likely. In turn, those storms could fuel stronger wind events like the one behind the Maui fires.

“,”elementId”:”a2c2fa9b-4ee4-4fbb-8664-9e7d39868a6e”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Experts warn disasters such as the one unfolding on Maui are driven by multiple factors, but that the climate crisis is an undeniable contributor.

“,”elementId”:”54c95561-2b94-423e-a562-12824b02a424″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

“These kinds of climate change-related disasters are really beyond the scope of things that we’re used to dealing with,” said Kelsey Copes-Gerbitz, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of British Columbia’s faculty of forestry. “It’s these kind of multiple, interactive challenges that really lead to a disaster.”

“,”elementId”:”51a19d72-b9b0-4c28-8971-2e5a419cbbac”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

The situation in Hawaii recalled scenes of devastation elsewhere in the world this summer, as wildfires caused by record heat forced the evacuation of tens of thousands of people in Greece, Spain, Portugal and other parts of Europe, and western Canada suffered unusually severe fires.

“,”elementId”:”26903447-9801-4691-ab04-d72cf22e0dbe”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Read more:

“,”elementId”:”1b1d6a77-5175-4846-83bf-176711e39adc”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement”,”url”:”https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/aug/09/hawaii-wildfires-maui-explainer”,”text”:”Hawaii wildfires: how did the deadly Maui fire start and what caused it?”,”prefix”:”Related: “,”role”:”thumbnail”,”elementId”:”b3a2e8b3-fb95-4a36-809e-179aeafb22d0″}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”abstract”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1691700317000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”16.45 EDT”,”blockLastUpdated”:1691700369000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”16.46 EDT”,”blockFirstPublished”:1691700370000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”16.46 EDT”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”16.46″,”title”:”What function is the local weather emergency taking part in within the wildfires?”,”contributors”:[{“name”:”Dani Anguiano”,”imageUrl”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/uploads/2023/05/18/Dani_Anguiano.jpg?width=300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=62e5fc219f4860d52706db44b981b242″,”largeImageUrl”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/uploads/2023/05/18/Dani_Anguiano.png?width=300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=ff300417400de848bb8fafad1bbe5d80″}] ,”primaryDateLine”:”Thu 10 Aug 2023 18.24 EDT”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First printed on Thu 10 Aug 2023 05.46 EDT”},{“id”:”64d5475f8f0808267411c5c9″,”parts”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Search and rescue teams won’t be able to access certain areas until the fire lines are secure, officials said.

“,”elementId”:”93075d36-efad-4edd-ac2c-72e6266add95″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

“We are still in life preservation mode. Search and rescue is still a primary concern,” Adam Weintraub, a spokesperson for Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, told the AP.

“,”elementId”:”5d915ea1-b85f-410d-ab0b-bbc5aaa64c96″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

“What we have here is a natural disaster,” Weintraub said. “There may have been questions that need to be examined about whether it was handled in the right way. But we still got people in danger. We still have people who don’t have homes. We still have people who can’t find their loved ones.”

“,”elementId”:”1b4b4081-e067-4f6b-931a-be562b1d9236″}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”abstract”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1691699039000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”16.23 EDT”,”blockLastUpdated”:1691703075000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”17.31 EDT”,”blockFirstPublished”:1691699281000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”16.28 EDT”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”16.28″,”title”:”Search and rescue groups unable to entry sure areas on account of fires, officers say”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Thu 10 Aug 2023 18.24 EDT”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First printed on Thu 10 Aug 2023 05.46 EDT”},{“id”:”64d5134d8f0808267411c38d”,”parts”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Joe Biden approved a disaster declaration for Hawaii, following wildfires on the island.

“,”elementId”:”86979dc5-f41c-4ea0-916c-11768e12ed2e”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Federal funding was made available Thursday morning for affected residents in Maui county, read a statement about the declaration.

“,”elementId”:”b847dc44-dab3-44bd-b488-21a857a398eb”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Along with the declaration, Biden also ordered that federal aid be used to supplement local recovery efforts for areas impacted by the wildfires.

“,”elementId”:”0ac05502-e8de-4071-aa42-14f4169c80d7″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Such funding can be used for grants for temporary housing, loans to cover uninsured property that was damaged, and in other ways to support recovery on the island.

“,”elementId”:”d1a7f3f1-1b00-42f9-a266-b48961eea1bc”}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:true,”keyEvent”:true,”abstract”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1691685709000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”12.41 EDT”,”blockLastUpdated”:1691686478000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”12.54 EDT”,”blockFirstPublished”:1691685932000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”12.45 EDT”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”12.45″,”title”:”Joe Biden approves catastrophe declaration for Hawaii”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Thu 10 Aug 2023 18.24 EDT”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First printed on Thu 10 Aug 2023 05.46 EDT”},{“id”:”64d4ffa08f089cdb327cd367″,”parts”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Many in Maui are still struggling with cell service, as wildfires spread through much of the island.

“,”elementId”:”1d933c8a-0335-4ccb-993d-4418d369203d”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

911 service and cell service were down as of Wednesday morning, said Hawaii’s lieutenant governor, Sylvia Luke, to CNN.

“,”elementId”:”c540ad92-40e7-4fb5-bee2-fad85fe4d369″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

CNN’s Samantha Murphy Kelly wrote about why the island is experiencing a disruption of cell service:

“,”elementId”:”8fd8bd2f-916c-4d83-b23c-c24da2450add”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement”,”html”:”

n

Although strong winds can sometimes threaten cell towers, most are strong enough to handle the worst that even a Category 5 hurricane can bring. Fire, however, complicates the issue.

n

“When the fires get too close to cell sites, they will obviously burn equipment, antennas, and feedlines,” said Glenn O’Donnell, VP of research at market research firm Forrester. “In extreme cases, they will also weaken the towers, leading some to collapse. The smoke and flames can also attenuate signals because of the particulate density in the air.”

n

…

n

Power outages are also a threat to cell phone towers. The Maui disaster has already wiped out power to at least 14,000 homes and businesses in the area, according to PowerOutage.us. Many towers have backup power generators, but they have limited capacity to keep towers running.

n

“,”elementId”:”0b27b7ef-7c3d-4c72-a4e7-2f897fc7b9da”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Read the full article here.

“,”elementId”:”29dca673-5919-481c-ad35-d0f3fe4b5504″}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”abstract”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1691680673000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”11.17 EDT”,”blockLastUpdated”:1691683590000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”12.06 EDT”,”blockFirstPublished”:1691681244000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”11.27 EDT”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”11.27″,”title”:”Emergency and cell service patchy throughout Maui”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Thu 10 Aug 2023 18.24 EDT”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First printed on Thu 10 Aug 2023 05.46 EDT”},{“id”:”64d4fc2e8f08d13e612ef3d3″,”parts”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

San Francisco’s mayor, London Breed, was evacuated from Maui as wildfires spread across the island, a spokesperson confirmed to various outlets.

“,”elementId”:”f50cb6da-f0f8-42a5-8cd6-9512518b9130″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Breed was visiting Maui on a personal trip, a spokesperson said to NBC News.

“,”elementId”:”546f8932-73ae-47b6-851a-ccff441321c8″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

She is now in Oahu.

“,”elementId”:”25329711-2430-4205-b596-0e12111e4ee1″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

“The Mayor was never in danger. This wildfire is devastating to witness and our thoughts are with the people of Maui,” press secretary Parisa Safarzadeh said in a statement.

“,”elementId”:”2e71c6a4-ae23-443d-b942-38aa1d9a4e83″}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”abstract”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1691679790000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”11.03 EDT”,”blockLastUpdated”:1691683607000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”12.06 EDT”,”blockFirstPublished”:1691679955000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”11.05 EDT”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”11.05″,”title”:”San Francisco mayor evacuated from Maui”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Thu 10 Aug 2023 18.24 EDT”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First printed on Thu 10 Aug 2023 05.46 EDT”},{“id”:”64d4ed348f08d13e612ef2ec”,”parts”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

The death toll due to wildfires in Hawaii could rise, officials warn, as fires are still burning on the island and searches are underway.

“,”elementId”:”2ab84740-a842-4fe7-a7a3-a5144388d100″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Emergency response teams are still searching impacted areas in Hawaii in an attempt to find more survivors, Adam Weintraub, communication director for the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, said on Thursday during an interview with Good Morning America.

“,”elementId”:”daab8c31-5e75-4e6a-8edf-45244c2b83f5″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

When asked about fears that death tolls could rise, Weintraub noted that officials have only recently managed to contain the flames.

“,”elementId”:”9694d7be-0111-4d26-97d8-5ea8326be303″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

“So, we’re hoping for the best, but we’re prepared for the worst,” Weintraub said.

“,”elementId”:”3d902e5e-8a8b-4286-a933-3dbfebfff321″}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”abstract”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1691675956000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”09.59 EDT”,”blockLastUpdated”:1691681453000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”11.30 EDT”,”blockFirstPublished”:1691676171000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”10.02 EDT”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”10.02″,”title”:”Hawaii dying toll may rise, officers warn, as wildfires nonetheless burn”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Thu 10 Aug 2023 18.24 EDT”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First printed on Thu 10 Aug 2023 05.46 EDT”},{“id”:”64d4e6308f08cea93c07b508″,”parts”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Over 10,000 people are without power in Maui, as of 3.24am HST (1.24pm GMT).

“,”elementId”:”49be2c19-528a-4cd9-af2a-35c0c65859c3″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

There are 10,942 customers who do not have power, according to data from poweroutage.us. The reported outage makes up the vast majority of power outages affecting Hawaii’s population of 1.4m residents.

“,”elementId”:”6e322cde-a327-4631-acf3-ec58dac756c8″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Hawaiian Electric, a major power provider for Hawaii, issued a statement Wednesday night noting that West Maui customers “should plan for extended outages”.

“,”elementId”:”82647c46-0237-4a08-a96f-10b6ee365b9a”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

The company said that access to many impacted areas was limited due to ongoing safety concerns.

“,”elementId”:”8187b6d7-aea5-48e6-bf7c-256cb359ba3f”}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”abstract”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1691674160000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”09.29 EDT”,”blockLastUpdated”:1691681806000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”11.36 EDT”,”blockFirstPublished”:1691674751000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”09.39 EDT”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”09.39″,”title”:”Greater than 10,000 individuals in Maui with out energy”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Thu 10 Aug 2023 18.24 EDT”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First printed on Thu 10 Aug 2023 05.46 EDT”},{“id”:”64d4dae78f08646765674def”,”parts”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Mass bus evacuations for visitors in West Maui is set to resume Thursday morning, county officials announced.

“,”elementId”:”40d43ed7-0728-426f-8943-f0b860b2fdc2″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Starting 8.30 am hst, three coach busses with capacity for 49 people will begin to shuttle visitors to the Kahului Airport.

“,”elementId”:”a93dc803-366e-4b9e-945d-38b8c7d776b3″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Visitors were asked to leave Maui Wednesday, as wildfires spread throughout the island.

“,”elementId”:”3ed9c761-0686-4092-a8e8-3ab39e397675″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Airlines serving Maui have added flights to support evacuations and to bring in emergency supplies, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported.

“,”elementId”:”5d52f8a4-050e-436f-91ab-43a8586c2261″}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”abstract”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1691671271000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”08.41 EDT”,”blockLastUpdated”:1691681835000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”11.37 EDT”,”blockFirstPublished”:1691671780000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”08.49 EDT”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”08.49″,”title”:”Bus evacuations for guests in West Maui to renew on Thursday morning”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Thu 10 Aug 2023 18.24 EDT”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First printed on Thu 10 Aug 2023 05.46 EDT”},{“id”:”64d4c2ee8f087d0e851ceac5″,”parts”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Here is our latest full report on the fires, from my colleague Abené Clayton:

“,”elementId”:”8b8b88a7-5dde-44a4-96db-f527cee8756c”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Lahaina, a historic town on Maui, has been decimated, leaving residents reeling at the loss of homes, nature and human life. At least 36 people have been killed in the blaze and dozens more have been reported injured. The ashy, charred landscape has been described as apocalyptic.

“,”elementId”:”8f2f0eb7-1705-40ca-9615-db90cdaa64c1″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

In the 1700s, Lahaina was established as the capital of the Hawaiian Kingdom. The town became one of the main ports for the North Pacific whaling fleet and later, as the whaling industry began to collapse, transitioned to a sugar plantation town.

“,”elementId”:”a9244d84-5c34-433d-bb0a-4b0e135550df”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

The downtown area and Front Street was designated a national historic landmark in 1962 and many of the buildings had been preserved and were open to the public. However the wildfire that erupted in the middle of the night brought widespread destruction to the area.

“,”elementId”:”fa2f9dd0-034a-47d3-8e86-9c67c5c7eb0a”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.ImageBlockElement”,”media”:{“allImages”:[{“index”:0,”fields”:{“height”:”3953″,”width”:”5500″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/691fc8a633e5cf4743c745ba44f0ada424e41468/0_0_5500_3953/5500.jpg”},{“index”:1,”fields”:{“isMaster”:”true”,”height”:”3953″,”width”:”5500″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/691fc8a633e5cf4743c745ba44f0ada424e41468/0_0_5500_3953/master/5500.jpg”},{“index”:2,”fields”:{“height”:”1437″,”width”:”2000″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/691fc8a633e5cf4743c745ba44f0ada424e41468/0_0_5500_3953/2000.jpg”},{“index”:3,”fields”:{“height”:”719″,”width”:”1000″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/691fc8a633e5cf4743c745ba44f0ada424e41468/0_0_5500_3953/1000.jpg”},{“index”:4,”fields”:{“height”:”359″,”width”:”500″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/691fc8a633e5cf4743c745ba44f0ada424e41468/0_0_5500_3953/500.jpg”},{“index”:5,”fields”:{“height”:”101″,”width”:”140″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/691fc8a633e5cf4743c745ba44f0ada424e41468/0_0_5500_3953/140.jpg”}] },”knowledge”:{“alt”:”A satellite tv for pc picture reveals an outline of an space in Lahaina, Maui.”,”caption”:”A satellite tv for pc picture reveals an outline of an space in Lahaina, Maui.”,”credit score”:”{Photograph}: Maxar Applied sciences/Reuters”},”displayCredit”:true,”function”:”inline”,”imageSources”:[{“weighting”:”inline”,”srcSet”:[{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/691fc8a633e5cf4743c745ba44f0ada424e41468/0_0_5500_3953/master/5500.jpg?width=620&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=581dedc2524d3c600b5391d8d832541e”,”width”:620},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/691fc8a633e5cf4743c745ba44f0ada424e41468/0_0_5500_3953/master/5500.jpg?width=620&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=8e9b7f1eb81eb2ca940ebd466945a1a8″,”width”:1240},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/691fc8a633e5cf4743c745ba44f0ada424e41468/0_0_5500_3953/master/5500.jpg?width=605&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=8942c3d451c451618714c396615a711d”,”width”:605},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/691fc8a633e5cf4743c745ba44f0ada424e41468/0_0_5500_3953/master/5500.jpg?width=605&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=caf72813d6f01aac195bd31e038cf132″,”width”:1210},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/691fc8a633e5cf4743c745ba44f0ada424e41468/0_0_5500_3953/master/5500.jpg?width=445&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=a2bba475cc33e86bda4d5af95050111d”,”width”:445},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/691fc8a633e5cf4743c745ba44f0ada424e41468/0_0_5500_3953/master/5500.jpg?width=445&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=d4c99aeb61868ede7d9d1f1b1f62b829″,”width”:890}] },{“weighting”:”thumbnail”,”srcSet”:[{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/691fc8a633e5cf4743c745ba44f0ada424e41468/0_0_5500_3953/master/5500.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=ce9d87bd58e7ce5b17798abc21f32c0d”,”width”:140},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/691fc8a633e5cf4743c745ba44f0ada424e41468/0_0_5500_3953/master/5500.jpg?width=140&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=86e01a0f1344739e8f38676b06c968d3″,”width”:280},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/691fc8a633e5cf4743c745ba44f0ada424e41468/0_0_5500_3953/master/5500.jpg?width=120&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=647f1e2a9cb4269868b96d3a957a1340″,”width”:120},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/691fc8a633e5cf4743c745ba44f0ada424e41468/0_0_5500_3953/master/5500.jpg?width=120&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=1c9b29ea99024477d38272d375029896″,”width”:240}] },{“weighting”:”supporting”,”srcSet”:[{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/691fc8a633e5cf4743c745ba44f0ada424e41468/0_0_5500_3953/master/5500.jpg?width=380&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=eb095b1a405f614c5309a4cee8e4c200″,”width”:380},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/691fc8a633e5cf4743c745ba44f0ada424e41468/0_0_5500_3953/master/5500.jpg?width=380&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=5df3b4216d32929cde890983868a96d2″,”width”:760},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/691fc8a633e5cf4743c745ba44f0ada424e41468/0_0_5500_3953/master/5500.jpg?width=300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=6802832c2632ff17406a321c49c836b4″,”width”:300},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/691fc8a633e5cf4743c745ba44f0ada424e41468/0_0_5500_3953/master/5500.jpg?width=300&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=e419c83fe6231e2c230e67a00cf5f9a5″,”width”:600},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/691fc8a633e5cf4743c745ba44f0ada424e41468/0_0_5500_3953/master/5500.jpg?width=620&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=581dedc2524d3c600b5391d8d832541e”,”width”:620},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/691fc8a633e5cf4743c745ba44f0ada424e41468/0_0_5500_3953/master/5500.jpg?width=620&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=8e9b7f1eb81eb2ca940ebd466945a1a8″,”width”:1240},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/691fc8a633e5cf4743c745ba44f0ada424e41468/0_0_5500_3953/master/5500.jpg?width=605&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=8942c3d451c451618714c396615a711d”,”width”:605},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/691fc8a633e5cf4743c745ba44f0ada424e41468/0_0_5500_3953/master/5500.jpg?width=605&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=caf72813d6f01aac195bd31e038cf132″,”width”:1210},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/691fc8a633e5cf4743c745ba44f0ada424e41468/0_0_5500_3953/master/5500.jpg?width=445&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=a2bba475cc33e86bda4d5af95050111d”,”width”:445},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/691fc8a633e5cf4743c745ba44f0ada424e41468/0_0_5500_3953/master/5500.jpg?width=445&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=d4c99aeb61868ede7d9d1f1b1f62b829″,”width”:890}] },{“weighting”:”showcase”,”srcSet”:[{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/691fc8a633e5cf4743c745ba44f0ada424e41468/0_0_5500_3953/master/5500.jpg?width=860&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=b64c3dec9d21840d5611bb88709cb6b3″,”width”:860},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/691fc8a633e5cf4743c745ba44f0ada424e41468/0_0_5500_3953/master/5500.jpg?width=860&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=0466a76fcfd45354e5d9a89be01d9384″,”width”:1720},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/691fc8a633e5cf4743c745ba44f0ada424e41468/0_0_5500_3953/master/5500.jpg?width=780&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=89a245c694e11ed12038c71e8535c543″,”width”:780},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/691fc8a633e5cf4743c745ba44f0ada424e41468/0_0_5500_3953/master/5500.jpg?width=780&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=7134501a34c1017a6108161823e185e0″,”width”:1560},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/691fc8a633e5cf4743c745ba44f0ada424e41468/0_0_5500_3953/master/5500.jpg?width=620&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=581dedc2524d3c600b5391d8d832541e”,”width”:620},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/691fc8a633e5cf4743c745ba44f0ada424e41468/0_0_5500_3953/master/5500.jpg?width=620&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=8e9b7f1eb81eb2ca940ebd466945a1a8″,”width”:1240},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/691fc8a633e5cf4743c745ba44f0ada424e41468/0_0_5500_3953/master/5500.jpg?width=605&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=8942c3d451c451618714c396615a711d”,”width”:605},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/691fc8a633e5cf4743c745ba44f0ada424e41468/0_0_5500_3953/master/5500.jpg?width=605&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=caf72813d6f01aac195bd31e038cf132″,”width”:1210},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/691fc8a633e5cf4743c745ba44f0ada424e41468/0_0_5500_3953/master/5500.jpg?width=445&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=a2bba475cc33e86bda4d5af95050111d”,”width”:445},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/691fc8a633e5cf4743c745ba44f0ada424e41468/0_0_5500_3953/master/5500.jpg?width=445&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=d4c99aeb61868ede7d9d1f1b1f62b829″,”width”:890}] },{“weighting”:”halfwidth”,”srcSet”:[{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/691fc8a633e5cf4743c745ba44f0ada424e41468/0_0_5500_3953/master/5500.jpg?width=620&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=581dedc2524d3c600b5391d8d832541e”,”width”:620},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/691fc8a633e5cf4743c745ba44f0ada424e41468/0_0_5500_3953/master/5500.jpg?width=620&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=8e9b7f1eb81eb2ca940ebd466945a1a8″,”width”:1240},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/691fc8a633e5cf4743c745ba44f0ada424e41468/0_0_5500_3953/master/5500.jpg?width=605&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=8942c3d451c451618714c396615a711d”,”width”:605},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/691fc8a633e5cf4743c745ba44f0ada424e41468/0_0_5500_3953/master/5500.jpg?width=605&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=caf72813d6f01aac195bd31e038cf132″,”width”:1210},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/691fc8a633e5cf4743c745ba44f0ada424e41468/0_0_5500_3953/master/5500.jpg?width=445&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=a2bba475cc33e86bda4d5af95050111d”,”width”:445},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/691fc8a633e5cf4743c745ba44f0ada424e41468/0_0_5500_3953/master/5500.jpg?width=445&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=d4c99aeb61868ede7d9d1f1b1f62b829″,”width”:890}] },{“weighting”:”immersive”,”srcSet”:[{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/691fc8a633e5cf4743c745ba44f0ada424e41468/0_0_5500_3953/master/5500.jpg?width=1900&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=bee11dd9270eb324a55e513f37c1eddd”,”width”:1900},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/691fc8a633e5cf4743c745ba44f0ada424e41468/0_0_5500_3953/master/5500.jpg?width=1900&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=a8d94b939ff8b63827f9da693a956b17″,”width”:3800},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/691fc8a633e5cf4743c745ba44f0ada424e41468/0_0_5500_3953/master/5500.jpg?width=1300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=8f7fc7a62632d6fc057fa83676ef3ee5″,”width”:1300},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/691fc8a633e5cf4743c745ba44f0ada424e41468/0_0_5500_3953/master/5500.jpg?width=1300&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=ca4f1c47e670d5c92486aa152c2df324″,”width”:2600},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/691fc8a633e5cf4743c745ba44f0ada424e41468/0_0_5500_3953/master/5500.jpg?width=1140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=103cce7bc7040c32db604bd3de20c1d4″,”width”:1140},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/691fc8a633e5cf4743c745ba44f0ada424e41468/0_0_5500_3953/master/5500.jpg?width=1140&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=8554654ba3f8b799b35fde579693722d”,”width”:2280},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/691fc8a633e5cf4743c745ba44f0ada424e41468/0_0_5500_3953/master/5500.jpg?width=980&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=5d982ad0e240a72ca693269dbc2e26fb”,”width”:980},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/691fc8a633e5cf4743c745ba44f0ada424e41468/0_0_5500_3953/master/5500.jpg?width=980&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=c3f204ab67825832f3e78d90b3c316d5″,”width”:1960},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/691fc8a633e5cf4743c745ba44f0ada424e41468/0_0_5500_3953/master/5500.jpg?width=740&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=960b23ea4f0e2e5b2c18b5bea7ca1885″,”width”:740},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/691fc8a633e5cf4743c745ba44f0ada424e41468/0_0_5500_3953/master/5500.jpg?width=740&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=bf095e5f556ae63828a2cd4bf928f79b”,”width”:1480},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/691fc8a633e5cf4743c745ba44f0ada424e41468/0_0_5500_3953/master/5500.jpg?width=660&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=163322cf0cbb57ae178085ae65ebb8c8″,”width”:660},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/691fc8a633e5cf4743c745ba44f0ada424e41468/0_0_5500_3953/master/5500.jpg?width=660&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=2c1f01e8c028ec655918309f68a9b5c1″,”width”:1320},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/691fc8a633e5cf4743c745ba44f0ada424e41468/0_0_5500_3953/master/5500.jpg?width=480&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=2dd736d46108840f4d75808c5c0fc8a6″,”width”:480},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/691fc8a633e5cf4743c745ba44f0ada424e41468/0_0_5500_3953/master/5500.jpg?width=480&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=31da4a81d33bff5ef272d32f93c7ca3f”,”width”:960}] }],”elementId”:”84a7f7ab-9e58-4d42-b2ff-e9ce0b1657a8″},{“_type”:”mannequin.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Photographs posted by the county confirmed a line of flames blazing throughout an intersection and leaping above historic buildings. It was not instantly identified what number of constructions have burned or how many individuals have been evacuated. The unprecedented blazes had been fanned by robust winds from Hurricane Dora.

“,”elementId”:”3426b291-52d5-46b6-8616-15f5ea93409b”},{“_type”:”mannequin.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

A casualty of the inferno is the 150 year-old Lahaina Banyan tree, that at its peak stood at 60ft excessive with branches that prolonged throughout a complete metropolis block. Although the tree seems to have survived the hearth and is still standing, based on native social media commenters, it has been severely broken by the flames.

“,”elementId”:”02f4133c-b343-4f5a-86e8-d7fe233d2818″},{“_type”:”mannequin.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

You may learn extra right here: ‘Like a bomb went off’: Maui wildfires decimate historic town of Lahaina

“,”elementId”:”cabdd04b-9e1a-481e-9b34-792359a560ed”},{“_type”:”mannequin.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement”,”url”:”https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/aug/10/lahaina-maui-wildfire-damage”,”textual content”:”‘Like a bomb went off’: Maui wildfires decimate historic city of Lahaina”,”prefix”:”Associated: “,”function”:”thumbnail”,”elementId”:”d3796459-1876-4d12-aa06-036019a6281f”}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”abstract”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1691665134000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”06.58 EDT”,”blockLastUpdated”:1691665856000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”07.10 EDT”,”blockFirstPublished”:1691665378000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”07.02 EDT”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”07.02″,”title”:”At the least 36 individuals killed in Lahaina as wildfire sweeps via”,”contributors”:[{“name”:”Abené Clayton”,”imageUrl”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/uploads/2023/05/18/Abene_Clayton.jpg?width=300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=54942dabdfd328d6345d4df485a5fe7f”,”largeImageUrl”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/uploads/2023/05/18/Abene_Clayton.png?width=300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=4b9fac71bb89ac4c9d80fc4eae32d196″}] ,”primaryDateLine”:”Thu 10 Aug 2023 18.24 EDT”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First printed on Thu 10 Aug 2023 05.46 EDT”},{“id”:”64d4b97d8f0884de6f417fe2″,”parts”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

It is estimated that about 12,000 people remain without power in Hawaii due to the wildfires. Yesterday, Hawaiian Electric asked for “continued patience” on power restorations.

“,”elementId”:”b4541530-0bf2-44e2-921f-1e39a8fcabe9″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

A spokesperson said “We are all hands on deck in supporting and responding to Maui communities affected by the outages, active wildfires, and sustained high wind damage.”

“,”elementId”:”0323daa2-4b4f-4e1f-9206-1cecc1582d30″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

In a press release the company said “In West Maui, approximately 12,400 customers remain offline,” and it cautioned residents that “as a reminder, if you see a downed power line, assume it is energized and dangerous. Stay away from downed power lines – at least 30ft (9m) or more.”

“,”elementId”:”38ce8618-cd80-4a41-a306-467015f7dd35″}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”abstract”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1691662717000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”06.18 EDT”,”blockLastUpdated”:1691665883000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”07.11 EDT”,”blockFirstPublished”:1691662880000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”06.21 EDT”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”06.21″,”title”:”Round 12,000 individuals stay with out energy on account of wildfires, says Hawaiian Electrical”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Thu 10 Aug 2023 18.24 EDT”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First printed on Thu 10 Aug 2023 05.46 EDT”},{“id”:”64d4a6168f0877b51befa3c9″,”parts”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Welcome to our live coverage of the devastating wildfires in the US state of Hawaii which have left at least 36 people dead. We’ll bring you the latest developments. Here is what we know so far:

“,”elementId”:”11ae37c2-6c39-44a7-92be-51288eb5e1e9″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

n

• At least 36 people have died in the Lahaina fire in Hawaii, local authorities have said, adding that the fire remained active.

n

• Wildfires, fanned by strong winds from Hurricane Dora, have destroyed businesses in the historic town of Lahaina and left dozens more people injured. There have been 13 evacuations for three fires.

n

• “As the firefighting efforts continue, 36 total fatalities have been discovered today amid the active Lahaina fire,” a Maui county statement said. “No other details are available at this time.”

n

• It remains unclear if the 36 fatalities were in addition to the six reported earlier on Wednesday.

n

“,”elementId”:”114a5a02-3ab0-485c-8d49-3a11920c5f41″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

I’m Martin Belam, and I’ll be running this live blog for the next couple of hours. You can contact me at [email protected].

“,”elementId”:”88944f25-43f2-4354-8adb-bb5817a2f9f2″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement”,”url”:”https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/aug/10/hawaii-fire-kills-people-lahaina-town-maui”,”text”:”At least 36 people killed as fire devastates Lahaina town in Hawaii”,”prefix”:”Related: “,”role”:”thumbnail”,”elementId”:”c6a0416a-107c-4d7f-a72d-3e1eb5440158″}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:false,”abstract”:true},”blockCreatedOn”:1691660778000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”05.46 EDT”,”blockLastUpdated”:1691660774000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”05.46 EDT”,”blockFirstPublished”:1691660778000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”05.46 EDT”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”05.46″,”title”:”What we all know as far as not less than 36 killed in Hawaii wildfires – opening abstract”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Thu 10 Aug 2023 18.24 EDT”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First printed on Thu 10 Aug 2023 05.46 EDT”}],”filterKeyEvents”:false,”format”:{“show”:0,”theme”:0,”design”:12},”id”:”key-events-carousel-mobile”}”>

Key occasions

Present key occasions solely

Please activate JavaScript to make use of this characteristic

What we all know thus far

We’re closing the weblog, however will proceed to offer information updates on our house web page. Right here’s what we’ve coated thus far as we speak:

• At the least 36 individuals have died within the ferocious wildfires throughout Hawaii, which have devastated the historic city of Lahaina. Some areas stay inaccessible to go looking and rescue groups, as hearth crews combat to comprise the fires. The flames had been fanned by robust winds from Hurricane Dora.

• California, which has skilled a number of devastating megafires lately, is sending specialised search and rescue workforce members to assist discover survivors and handle fatalities.

• About 11,000 individuals remained with out energy and cellphone service in elements of Maui, and Hawaiian Electrical, the primary energy firm in Hawaii, stated prolonged outages are anticipated.

• A whole lot of further vacationers had been being evacuated Thursday, and officers have strongly discouraged guests from coming into Hawaii. Some 1,800 individuals spent the evening within the airport on Wednesday, based on Hawaii’s Division of transportation.

Governor Josh Inexperienced and Maui Mayor Richard Bissen are planning to carry a information convention in Wailuku at 3:30 PM native time, the primary time as we speak that officers can be offering updates on the devastation.

Inexperienced has been touring Lahaina on Thursday,

Dani Anguiano

The devastating fires that roared via Maui this week, killing dozens and ravaging the historic city of Lahaina, scorched a beloved tree that has been described as the biggest banyan within the US.

For generations, the majestic tree alongside Lahaina City’s historic Entrance Avenue served as a gathering place with leafy branches that unfurled to present shade from the Hawaiian solar. By most accounts, the sprawling tree was the center of the oceanside group – towering greater than 60ft (18 meters) and anchored by a number of trunks that span practically an acre. This yr the city celebrated the banyan’s 150th birthday with cake.

Right this moment, the tree remains to be standing however the hearth that burned via the realm left it charred.

“It definitely doesn’t seem like that tree goes to get well,” James B Friday, an extension forester with the College of Hawaii, informed the New York Times after reviewing pictures and movies of the harm. The tree’s skinny bark wouldn’t have offered sufficient safety from the flames, he stated.

The colossal tree has shaded group occasions, together with artwork festivals, for 150 years.

“It’s sort of the middle of city,” Amy Fuqua, a Maui resident, informed the Related Press in a 2016 interview when she was the supervisor of the Lahaina Customer’s Middle. “Everybody is aware of the place it’s at. It has an essential significance to the city and it feels good underneath there.”

On the time it was planted in 1873, a present shipped from India to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the primary Protestant mission in Lahaina, the tree was solely an 8-ft (2-meter) sapling. It was planted 1 / 4 century earlier than the Hawaiian Islands turned a US territory and 7 a long time after King Kamehameha declared Lahaina the capital of his kingdom.

The tree’s enormity – and its many trunks – is due to the way it grows. Aerial roots dangle from its boughs and ultimately latch onto the soil. Branches splay out broadly and turn into roosting locations for choirs of myna birds.

It has been described because the the “heartbeat of Lahaina Town”.

“I can say every little thing in Lahaina is gone,” Maui resident Dustin Kaleiopu told CNN. “Everybody that I do know and love, everybody that I’m associated to, that I talk with, my colleagues, mates, household – we’re all homeless.”

Learn extra:

Fran Lawther

There are extra pictures coming in on the newswires exhibiting the destruction wreaked by fires sweeping throughout Lahaina in Hawaii.

Aerial pictures present properties razed to the bottom and burned-out vehicles. In some pictures, charred and twisted sheets of metallic seem like all that’s left of the buildings that had been as soon as there.

California is sending a search and rescue workforce to Maui to assist in restoration efforts, based on the state’s workplace of emergency companies.

Specialised first responders from a state that has endured plenty of lethal megafires lately can be deployed to the hardest-hit areas of the island, a spokesperson for the company stated. Extra specialists in mass fatality administration are being despatched to help Hawaii’s emergency administration operations.

What function is the local weather emergency taking part in within the wildfires?

Dani Anguiano

The local weather disaster, pushed by fossil gasoline use, is growing the frequency and depth of maximum climate occasions, together with wildfires like those Maui is grappling with.

Clay Trauernicht, a hearth scientist on the College of Hawaii, stated the moist season may spur crops like Guinea grass, an invasive species discovered throughout elements of Maui, to develop as rapidly as 6in (15cm) a day and attain as much as 10ft (3 meters) tall. That grass creates a tinderbox that’s ripe for wildfire because it dries out.

“These grasslands accumulate fuels very quickly,” Trauernicht stated. “In hotter situations and drier situations, with variable rainfall, it’s solely going to exacerbate the issue.”

Local weather change not solely will increase the hearth danger by driving up temperatures, but in addition makes stronger hurricanes extra probably. In flip, these storms may gasoline stronger wind occasions just like the one behind the Maui fires.

Consultants warn disasters such because the one unfolding on Maui are pushed by a number of elements, however that the local weather disaster is an plain contributor.

“These sorts of local weather change-related disasters are actually past the scope of issues that we’re used to coping with,” stated Kelsey Copes-Gerbitz, a postdoctoral researcher on the College of British Columbia’s college of forestry. “It’s these sort of a number of, interactive challenges that basically result in a catastrophe.”

The state of affairs in Hawaii recalled scenes of devastation elsewhere on this planet this summer season, as wildfires attributable to file warmth pressured the evacuation of tens of hundreds of individuals in Greece, Spain, Portugal and different elements of Europe, and western Canada suffered unusually extreme fires.

Learn extra:

Search and rescue groups unable to entry sure areas on account of fires, officers say

Search and rescue groups gained’t be capable to entry sure areas till the hearth strains are safe, officers stated.

“We’re nonetheless in life preservation mode. Search and rescue remains to be a main concern,” Adam Weintraub, a spokesperson for Hawaii Emergency Administration Company, informed the AP.

“What now we have here’s a pure catastrophe,” Weintraub stated. “There could have been questions that should be examined about whether or not it was dealt with in the proper manner. However we nonetheless received individuals at risk. We nonetheless have individuals who don’t have properties. We nonetheless have individuals who can’t discover their family members.”

Hello, I’m Maanvi Singh, taking up the weblog from my colleague Abené.

Hawaii’s governor Josh Inexperienced, stated this was “the deadliest pure catastrophe the state has seen in generations”.

Inexperienced minimize a trip brief to return to the state, pledging “to spare no assets to fight the damaging wildfires, shelter the displaced, deal with and convey consolation to the traumatized, help our first responders, restore communication strains and enlist assistance from our federal and county companions to confront this this once-in-a-lifetime disaster”.

As individuals proceed to evacuate from Maui, Hawaiian Airways is providing fares as low $19 for seats of their primary cabin, Hawaii Information Now has reported.

Moreover, United Airways has canceled it flights going into Kahului Airport in and can ship the empty planes to the island to convey individuals again to the mainland, the airline tweeted on Thursday.

1,800 individuals spent the evening within the airport on Wednesday, based on Hawaii’s Division of transportation.

Throughout a speech, Joe Biden reaffirmed his help for the residents of Hawaii as they assess the harm to their communities.

I’m going to ensure the state has every little thing it wants from the federal authorities to get well … I’ve ordered all obtainable federal property on the island, together with the US coast guard, Navy third fleet and US Military, to help native emergency response teams and the Hawaiian nationwide guard.”

Within the meantime our prayers are with the individuals of Hawaii. However not simply our prayers, each asset now we have can be obtainable to them,” Biden stated throughout his remarks.

Watch the whole lot of Biden’s comments on Lahaina here.

Photographs from Maui reveal the wreckage that Tuesday’s wildfire has wrought.

Hawaii’s governor, Josh Inexperienced, tweeted a photograph of him reviewing and signing the declaration of emergency that Joe Biden signed earlier this morning.

The declaration’s approval will, “Unlock the complete energy and help of the federal authorities, which incorporates catastrophe aid assets and direct monetary help for our communities,” Inexperienced stated in a tweet.

Early this morning, Governor Inexperienced, M.D., reviewed and signed the State of Hawai`i’s main catastrophe declaration request which was transmitted to the White Home for Presidential approval. Moments in the past, @POTUS accredited the declaration request. pic.twitter.com/BOkiZxdE5y

— Governor Josh Inexperienced (@GovJoshGreenMD) August 10, 2023

“,”url”:”https://twitter.com/GovJoshGreenMD/standing/1689682249174892544″,”id”:”1689682249174892544″,”hasMedia”:false,”function”:”inline”,”isThirdPartyTracking”:false,”supply”:”Twitter”,”elementId”:”eee6e309-1df8-40f1-8dda-82eb3965fe51″}}”>

Early this morning, Governor Inexperienced, M.D., reviewed and signed the State of Hawai`i’s main catastrophe declaration request which was transmitted to the White Home for Presidential approval. Moments in the past, @POTUS accredited the declaration request. pic.twitter.com/BOkiZxdE5y

— Governor Josh Inexperienced (@GovJoshGreenMD) August 10, 2023

Hawaii Governor Josh Inexperienced, Senator Brian Schatz and employees with the Federal Emergency Administration Company (Fema) staffers can be on Maui Thursday morning to evaluate the harm from devastating wildfires, Schatz wrote on social media.

Emergency rescue, restoration and firefighting operations had been nonetheless underway, so the group would watch out to not intervene with these efforts, Schatz wrote on Twitter, just lately renamed X. “Winds are lastly backing off. The variety of useless continues to rise,” Schatz wrote, thanking individuals for his or her solidarity with Maui.

“These fires are completely devastating, and we won’t know the complete extent of the harm for some time. Within the meantime, the best precedence is the security of the individuals,” Schatz stated in a statement on Wednesday.

A 150-year-old banyan tree that was used to present shade to locals and vacationers visiting Lahaina has turn into an emblem of the devastation the fires. The tree, which was burned however seems to nonetheless be standing, grew to be over 60 toes excessive with leaves a branches that sprawled throughout a complete block.

It’s unclear what sparked the hearth, which rapidly raced towards city Tuesday night. The flames had been fanned by brisk winds and fueled by dry vegetation in close by hills. When the ferocious blaze swept into the historic city, most of the picket buildings didn’t stand an opportunity and had been rapidly changed into heaps of ashes.

The biggest banyan tree in America, within the Coronary heart of Lahaina, turned 150 years outdated this yr. Right here it’s after the #MauiFires. A tragic image of the local weather emergency and colonial greed pic.twitter.com/P4GtcqqCFD

— Kaniela Ing (@KanielaIng) August 9, 2023

“,”url”:”https://twitter.com/KanielaIng/standing/1689388557616689152″,”id”:”1689388557616689152″,”hasMedia”:false,”function”:”inline”,”isThirdPartyTracking”:false,”supply”:”Twitter”,”elementId”:”1a377da4-9bf0-4e2a-b484-472265234480″}}”>

The biggest banyan tree in America, within the Coronary heart of Lahaina, turned 150 years outdated this yr. Right here it’s after the #MauiFires. A tragic image of the local weather emergency and colonial greed pic.twitter.com/P4GtcqqCFD

— Kaniela Ing (@KanielaIng) August 9, 2023

The tree was simply an 8ft (2-meter) sapling when it was planted in 1873, a present shipped from India to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the primary Protestant mission in Lahaina. It was planted 1 / 4 century earlier than the Hawaiian Islands turned a US territory and 7 a long time after King Kamehameha declared Lahaina the capital of his kingdom, the Related Press reviews.

Oliver Milman

The devastating fires in Hawaii, the place not less than 36 individuals have died after a conflagration that engulfed the historic city of Lahaina, had been worsened by plenty of elements together with local weather change, scientists have stated.

Katharine Hayhoe, the chief scientist on the Nature Conservancy, stated that world heating is inflicting vegetation to dry out, priming it as gasoline for an outbreak of fireside. “Local weather change doesn’t often begin the fires; nevertheless it intensifies them, growing the realm they burn and making them way more harmful,” Hayhoe tweeted.

Maui has skilled different severe fires lately, with blazes in 2018 and 2021 razing lots of of properties and inflicting the evacuation of lots of of residents and vacationers. Consultants say that wildfires in Hawaii are actually burning via 4 instances the quantity of space than in earlier a long time, partially because of the proliferation of extra flammable non-native grasses but in addition the rising world temperatures.

Hawaii is experiencing more and more dry situations, with scientists calculating that 90% of the state is getting much less rainfall than it did a century in the past, with the interval since 2008 notably dry. The flames that tore via Lahaina, in the meantime, had been fanned by winds from the passing Hurricane Dora and the local weather disaster is causing an total improve in robust cyclones within the central Pacific.

“The intense wildfires in Lahania, on this summer season of local weather disasters, are but extra proof that we’re in a local weather emergency and this disaster is killing us,” stated Kaniela Ing, a local weather activist and indigenous chief in Hawaii.

Hey, I’m Abené Clayton and I can be taking up the weblog from my colleague Gloria. I can be sharing updates from the devastating and lethal hearth on Maui. Control this web page for extra.