Hawaii declares state of emergency following heavy rains, flash floods

Hawaii Gov. David Ige on Tuesday night declared an emergency in the U.S. state after heavy rains brought floods, landslides and fears of dam failures, and as authorities ordered the evacuation of several thousand people from communities threatened by rising waters. The move came after a dam overflowed on the island of Maui, forcing evacuations and destroying homes. Heavy rains also damaged roads, leaving them impassable, with one bridge completely washed out and another displaced, the governor’s office said. The emergency declaration covers the counties of Hawai’i, Maui, Kalawao, O’ahu and Kaua’i, the governor’s office said in a statement, while the disaster relief period runs until May 8.