53 people killed in Hawaii wildfires

(Patria) - The search after the wildfires on the Hawaiian island of Maui revealed the devastation of destroyed neighborhoods and landmarks, as the death toll rose to at least 53, AFP reported.

An aerial view of historic Lahaina showed entire neighborhoods that were once bustling turned to ash. Nothing remained but ruins, including along the famous Front Street, where tourists were shopping and dining just days ago. Boats in the harbor were burned, and smoke hung over the town, which dates back to the 1700s and is the largest community on the west side of the island.

"Lahaina, with a few rare exceptions, has been burned down," Hawaii Governor Josh Green told AP.

More than 1,000 structures were destroyed in the fires, which were still burning, he said. This is the state's deadliest natural disaster since the 1960 tsunami that killed 61 people on the Big Island, and the death toll is likely to rise further as search and rescue operations continue, Green added.

The official death toll of 53 as of Thursday makes this the deadliest wildfire in the US since the 2018 Camp Fire in Paradise, California, which killed at least 85 people.

Fueled by a dry summer and strong winds from a passing hurricane, the fire broke out on Tuesday and caught Maui by surprise. The fires were fanned by strong winds from Hurricane Dora, which passed far to the south. This is the latest in a series of disasters caused by extreme weather events around the world this summer. Experts say climate change is increasing the likelihood of such events.

Wildfires are not uncommon in Hawaii, but the weather in recent weeks created conditions for a devastating fire, and once ignited, strong winds created a catastrophe. The Coast Guard reported rescuing 14 people who jumped into the water to escape the flames and smoke.

US President Joe Biden declared a state of disaster on Maui.