Brush fires devastate Hawaii’s Maui island | SBS News

Wildfires fanned by winds of a distant hurricane killed at least 36 people and devastated much of Hawaii’s Maui island on Wednesday, forcing thousands to evacuate as some people fled into the ocean to escape the smoke and flames. Multiple neighborhoods were burnt to the ground as the western side of the island, including the tourist resort of Lahaina, was nearly cut off with only one highway open as officials told of widespread devastation that was still too early to quantify. “We just had the worst disaster I’ve ever seen. All of Lahaina is burnt to a crisp. It’s like an apocalypse,“ said Lahaina resident Mason Jarvi, who escaped from city. Read more: Subscribe for more from SBS News or visit for all the latest updates. You can also follow us on... TikTok: @sbsnews_au?lang=en Instagram: Twitter: Facebook: Apple News: SBS News is Australia’s trusted news source for the latest news from Australia and across the world. Network Terms & Conditions: Privacy Policy: Feedback or complaints: