By: Nicholas Wang
Recently, the deadly Maui Wildfire in Lahaina has killed many citizens and destroyed a historic town. It also burned the famous Banyan tree, a popular tourist destination.
Starting last week, a huge wildfire has been burning through the Hawaii Island of Maui and devastated a historic tourist town called Lahaina. Rosenthal, a resident of Maui affected by the disaster, stated that he had never seen such a huge wildfire.
Strong winds caused fire, originating from a tree falling on a power line, to spread at terrifying speeds towards Rosenthal’s family, friends and thousands of other unsuspecting residents and tourists. Many were so desperate to escape the flames they jumped into the ocean at locations such as Front Street, the heart of the historic town. This town has been scorched and burnt since.
“There was nothing else to do. You can’t go left, you can’t go right, you can’t turn around,” Rosenthal, age 37, recalled. “The only thing left to do is go into the water.” Rosenthal and his family who lived a few miles north of the burnt area were luckily spared. Unfortunately, not all the citizens were as lucky.
His grandfather’s house, decades old, was burned to the ground. His aunt escaped but recalled that she “could barely see, driving through smoke.”
One of his childhood friends that he had known since childhood died in her car with her son and parents. Many people have lost loved ones or friends during this fire. This is still devastating to the survivors to learn that though you survived, people you care about didn’t.
The death toll in Maui has reached a shocking number, with officials confirming Saturday that at least 93 people have died and at least 1,000 more remain uncounted for. The Maui fires are now the deadliest in the U.S. in the last century, even more than the deadly 2018 Camp fire that destroyed the Northern California town of Paradise, killing 85. Climate change may have worsened the wildfire because of the increased frequency of droughts and rising temperatures. If the temperature was cooler and more humid, the chances of wildfires like this would be much lower.
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This article was based on Maui death toll surpasses Paradise; deadliest U.S. wildfire in a century