‘Unprecedented wildfires’ have caused mass evacuations across Hawaii’s Big Island and Maui as Hurricane Dora spurs the flames.
Reportedly people are jumping into the Ocean to escape in some cases and the National Guard has been activated to help first responders.
A dozen people were rescued near Lahaina after “entering the ocean due to smoke and fire conditions,” the Coast Guard and county officials said. “Individuals were transported by the Coast Guard to safe areas.”
On Maui’s west side, 911 service is currently down with resorts, visitors and commercial districts losing communication due to downed cell towers. The south side of Maui Island been ordered to evacuate for both residential and commercial districts.
State officials are working with hotels and a local airline to try to evacuate tourists to another island, but are hampered with most cell service down.
About 2,000 visitors are stuck at the local airport with nowhere to go.