The forest fires on the island of Maui in Hawaii, USA have claimed at least 93 lives. Over 2,200 buildings have been destroyed in the western parts of the island and around 4,500 people are in need of evacuation accommodation.
Three of these are Kamuela Kawaakoa, Iula Yasso and their son. For SVT Nyheter’s reporter, they show the tents in Wailuku on the north side of the island that have become their new accommodation.
– Everything was in flames when we left. It was crazy, says Kamuela Kawaakoa.
Frustration on the roads
Getting back to the worst affected areas to see what’s left has proven difficult. The roads have been opened up to residents at short notice on a couple of occasions, only to be quickly closed down again. The queues for the roadblocks have been kilometers long.
Kamuela Kawakooa has not been able to get home to see the ruins of his home, but he still has hopes that one thing remains.
– My father’s urn is made of metal, so it may have survived.