The Washington Post reports on the devastation wrought by wildfires on three of Hawaii's islands:
The death toll from the fast-moving wildfires wreaking havoc through Hawaii has increased to 36, Maui County officials said Wednesday night local time. The blazes have been raging across at least three of Hawaii’s islands, trapping locals and visitors as strong winds linked to Hurricane Dora hampered efforts by authorities to contain the flames.
The fires lay ruin to the popular vacation town of Lahaina, in Maui County, which Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke (D) said was “decimated.” Satellite photographs show an entire community burned to the ground — with blocks of charred remains where hundreds of homes and shops once stood.
Luke described the devastation as a “tragic moment for the entire state” and said the recovery operation will take years.
Meanwhile:
Hawaii Gov. Josh Green (D) warned that the state does not have enough shelter for long-term living, and urged visitors to leave or cancel nonessential travel for Maui to open up hotel rooms, Airbnb listings and other accommodations for the displaced.
“We’ll welcome visitors back to paradise after the fire’s done and after we can rebuild,” Green said in an interview with CNN on Wednesday.
