The wildfires raging on the Hawaiian island of Maui have already killed more than 50 people. Survivors mourn the destruction of their homes and carry the guilt of surviving.
The state of Hawaii has boasted an extensive natural disaster warning system.
About 400 alarm sirens have been placed around the island group. However, several survivors of the wildfires on the island of Maui say they did not hear the sirens.
Before the flames arrived, the electricity and telephone connections of the city of Lahaina, which was completely destroyed in the fire, had been cut. The residents were in trouble.
A 70-year-old pensioner from Lahaina Thomas Leonard tells the news agency AP that he only noticed the wildfire when he could already smell the smoke.
Leonard says that he first tried to escape the flames in his Jeep. However, the pensioner had to abandon his spending game when the cars around him started exploding from the heat.
Leonard escaped to the water’s edge behind a bank, where he crouched for the next four hours. At the same time, hot ash flew over him with the wind. In the end, the rescue workers took the pensioner to safety.
Wildfires are one of the most devastating natural disasters in the Hawaiian Islands. At least 55 people have already died in them.
For many survivors, the events leave deep traumas.
Guilt for surviving
18 years old Ekolu Brayden Hoapili and his girlfriend of 20 years Sharmaiyenne Buduan fled the Lahaina wildfires with their car.
They are relieved to have survived, but tell the AFP news agency that the devastation they saw has haunted their minds.
– Everything was just red. Ashes and wind. Strong as hell, Hoapili describes the sight to AFP.
He recounts the events while sitting in the trunk of his car, where the couple has been sleeping for the past few nights.
– I looked towards the gas station, and I saw the fire spreading there. The people’s lands were located right next to the gas station. They were on fire, and all I saw was smoke, nothing but ashes. Everything fell from the sky and the flames spread. I said now we have to go.
– I felt powerless and helpless. I couldn’t help anyone.
Still, Hoapili was left wondering if he could have done more for others.
– When I look at it now, I left so many people behind. I know I could have done something, but I couldn’t, because if I had, I wouldn’t be here now.
Hopail’s girlfriend Buduan, on the other hand, mourned the loss of her hometown Lahaina.
– I grew up in the city. All my memories. Every place in Lahaina was loaded with memories. Then I see from the videos and pictures that everything is gone, Buduan tells AFP.
– It breaks the heart. It’s shocking.
Problems with preparation
Strong winds and extremely dry terrain have made it extremely difficult to contain the fire in Maui.
However, the wildfire risk has already been known. The island’s preparedness plans published in 2020 state that Lahaina and other western parts of Maui have frequent wildfires and numerous houses at risk of destruction.
In addition, there are relatively more people living in the western parts of the island who do not have their own vehicle and who do not speak English.
– This may limit the residents’ ability to understand the instructions and act in a dangerous situation, the contingency plan states.
The extinguishing work has also been made more difficult by the small number of firefighters. There are only 65 firefighters on the island, and they are also responsible for rescue operations on the islands of Molokai and Lanai.
Sources: AFP, AP