The fires that broke out in the city of Lahaina, which is located on Hawaii’s second largest island of Maui, show the results that the forest fires left behind. Scores of lives have been claimed and according to the latest reports the death toll has risen to at least 53 people in what is the deadliest fire in the US in years. Every day the death toll continues to rise further.
On several social media platforms, videos showing the devastation where people are fleeing for their lives are also being spread News24 previously written about.
The US military has started a rescue operation as the fires are not yet under control. Scores of tourists are currently stranded at airports as airspace is closed.
The pictures show the devastation in Hawaii
Now new pictures have been published showing the devastation on the island. Cars are parked in the streets, completely burnt out, houses and buildings as well. Satellite images also show how the fire shaped the island into a smoking inferno where before and after images show what was left behind.
Cars have been abandoned in the fire and have been completely burnt out. Photo: Tiffany Kidder Winn
Several homes have burned to the ground. Entire communities have been completely destroyed in one of the deadliest fires in the United States in years.
Photo: Rick Bowmer
Thousands of residents and tourists have been forced to leave their homes and flee the fires.
Photo: Ty O’Neil
Several experts have spoken out and said the fires will most likely transform the otherwise beautiful paradise island into an undesirable landscape that accelerates erosion, contributes to contamination in waterways that impairs the marine life that is so important to the Hawaiian Islands.
Ruins in Lahaina. Photo: Tiffany Kidder WinnImage at left shows satellite images of Maui before the fire broke out. Picture on the right shows the devastation after. Photo: TT
Image on the left shows satellite images of Maui before the fire broke out. Picture on the right shows the devastation after. Photo: TT