Officials in Hawaii’s Maui County said Thursday at least 36 lives have been claimed as deadly wildfires sweep across the area, forcing authorities to start evacuating people.<\/p>\n
“As the firefighting efforts continue, 36 total fatalities have been discovered today amid the active Lahaina fire,” the Maui county government said in a statement.<\/p>\n
Maui County said more than 100 firefighters at any one time are battling the active wildfires on the island, where winds were finally abating Wednesday night, Hawaii News Now reported.<\/p>\n
There are no further details about the 36 deceased people but residents are turning to social media to look at their loved ones.<\/p>\n
Authorities have opened five evacuation shelters on Maui. Officials earlier said they were “overrun” with people. The island is a popular tourist destination and visitors have been urged to stay away.<\/p>\n
Hawaii Lt Governor Sylvia Luke told reporters: “This is not a safe place to be. We have resources that are being taxed.”<\/p>\n
“We just had the worst disaster I’ve ever seen. All of Lahaina is burnt to a crisp. It’s like an apocalypse,” resident Mason Jarvi told Reuters.<\/p>\n
On Wednesday, At least six people died and scores of others left Maui County after wind-fueled wildfires destroyed hundreds of buildings in the historical town of Lahaina.<\/p>\n
“We are still in a search and rescue mode, and so I don’t know what will happen to that number,” Maui Mayor Richard Bissen said Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Lt Governor Luke said it could take months to assess the full scope of the damage from the fires.<\/p>\n