Hawaii wildfires - live updates: Maui and Big Island evacuated as Hurricane Dora winds fuel blazes

Gustaf Kilander
·3 min read
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Evacuations are underway on Hawaii’s Big Island and Maui as wildfires fueled by Hurricane Dora tear through buildings and push some to jump into the ocean to escape the flames.

The Hawaii National Guard was called in to support emergency workers following a proclamation issued on Tuesday by Lieutenant Governor Sylvia Luke – the acting governor during Governor Josh Green’s out-of-state travel.

In the Pacific Ocean south of the Hawaii archipelago, category four Hurricane Dora is pushing on the fires with winds of 130mph. At about 5am ET on Wednesday, it was located about 740 miles southwest of Honolulu, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Maui hospitals have been overwhelmed with people suffering from burns and smoke inhalation, Ms Luke told CNN, adding that the difficulty in transporting patients between facilities is impeding the emergency response.

“We are already in communication with other hospital systems about relieving the burden — the reality is that we need to fly people out of Maui to give them burn support because Maui hospital cannot do extensive burn treatment,” she told the network. “In addition to dealing with disaster, we’re dealing with major transportation issues as well.”

Key Points

  • ‘911 is down. Cell service is down. Phone service is down'

  • VIDEO: Roadside devastated as Hurricane Dora and wildfire tears through island

VIDEO: Roadside devastated as Hurricane Dora and wildfire tears through island

14:12 , Lucy Leeson

Hurricane Dora is tearing through the island of Hawaii in apocalyptic scenes as people flee into the sea to escape terrifying wildfires.

Multiple evacuations are taking place across the islands in the popular tourist area of Maui County.

Sevral fires have destroyed homes and buildings across Maui and Lahaina as footage shows whole areas enguled in flames.

Acting Governor Sylvia Luke has issued an emergency proclamation and activated the Hawaii National Guard.

Authorities say “multiple structures” have been burnt and power lines down as flames are fuelled by strong winds from the hurricane.

‘911 is down. Cell service is down. Phone service is down'

14:12 , Gustaf Kilander

Hawaii Lt Gov Sylvia Luke told CNN that the fires are impeding their efforts to transport patients between hospitals.

“We are already in communication with other hospital systems about relieving the burden — the reality is that we need to fly people out of Maui to give them burn support because Maui hospital cannot do extensive burn treatment,” she said. “In addition to dealing with disaster, we’re dealing with major transportation issues as well.”

She added that some areas of the islands have been completely cut off.

“911 is down. Cell service is down. Phone service is down. That’s been part of the problem. The Maui County has not been able to communicate with residents on the west side, the Lahaina side,” Ms Luke told the network.

“What we are trying to do is deploy individuals to go into areas with satellite phone service. We have only been in contact with perhaps one hotel because the one hotel, the people in charge of that hotel have satellite phones,” the former Hawaii House representative said. “That’s the only way you can make connection. It’s impeding communication. It’s impeding efforts to evacuate residents and we are very concerned about that.”