Hawaii's Island of Maui Fights Off Catastrophic Wildfires

Hurricane Dora have stoked flames throughout the Hawaiian island of Maui prompting mandatory evacuations.

There were reports of "apocalyptic" scenes as people jumped into the water to escape the advancing fires. The Big Island has also been affected by the fires.

According to CNN, Hawaii Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke announced that 911 and phone communications were down. Burn injuries patients have overwhelmed the Maui medical system, she added. Since the hospital on Maui is not equipped to handle severe burns, it is necessary to transport the victims elsewhere for care.

Officials can't predict with certainty where the flames will spread next because of how the wind and topography are shifting. State authorities are reportedly coordinating with hotels and a local airline in an effort to relocate guests to another island, as reported by Luke.

In order to help with the situation, Hawaiian Airlines allows customers to rearrange their flights to or from Kahului, Maui (OGG) during August 9-11, 2023 at no charge. By August 18, 2023, passengers must have their tickets rebooked into the same cabin for continued travel beginning September 1. In addition, passengers also have the option to cancel their flight and get a full refund up to the ticket's expiration date, which is one year from the date of purchase. In the aftermath of the natural calamity, other airlines have also offered similar exemptions.

Hawaii's governor, Josh Green, issued a statement calling the blaze "a horrific calamity." The fire was fuelled by hurricane-force winds and exacerbated by persistent drought. Both Maui and the Big Island were severely affected by flames. Many homes in Lahaina, Maui, were damaged, forcing communities to relocate.

Official news from the Hawaii Tourism Authority reads:

"Visitors who are on non-essential travel are being asked to leave Maui, and non-essential travel to Maui is strongly discouraged at this time. In the days and weeks ahead, our collective resources and attention must be focused on the recovery of residents and communities that were forced to evacuate their homes and businesses.

Visitors who have travel plans to West Maui in the coming weeks are encouraged to consider rescheduling their travel plans for a later time.”

Even though Kahului Airport on Maui is now operating normally, passengers should contact their airline to confirm their flight's status and get help rebooking if necessary.

 

source: travelpulse.com