The Hawaii governor says the Maui fires will do more damage than the 1960 disaster that killed 61 people

Several businesses and hotels were burned in the wildfires that damaged most of the historic town of Lahaina, Hawaii, including the Ritz Carlton in Kapalua, Maui, on fire?

In what is believed to be the worst disaster to strike the state, thousands of people were displaced from their homes and public properties and evacuated as flames from the fires that reportedly broke out Saturday engulfed the town on the island of Maui, Hawaii. Concerns for locals and tourists staying in hotels are growing as authorities are overwhelmed with the damage caused by the wildfires during rescue operations.

Is the Ritz Carlton on Maui on fire?

No, the Ritz Carlton on Maui is not on fire. But the hotel in Kapalua, north of Lahaina, was reportedly running on electricity supplied by generators and “was running low on fuel and food,” Hawaii Hotel Association president Jerry Gibson told Civil Beat Org.

The property apparently only had enough fuel to keep the power going for about six hours. Jerry called They were “working on a lot of logistics” to get plenty of diesel fuel to the property as the usual commute was destroyed by the blaze.

He also added that 466 rooms and 107 suites at the hotel are fully booked, saying, “They’re like an island up there.”

• CONTINUE READING: Is the Four Seasons Resort Maui in Wailea Affected by the Hawaii Fires?

The relatives and friends of people visiting Maui Island and staying at the Ritz Carlton Hotel are in grave concern for the condition of their loved ones as the phone service has been disrupted and they are only receiving updated information from authorities and officials through press and social media .

Lahaina businesses and hotels suffer catastrophic damage

Lahaina, in western Maui, suffered the most damage from the wildfires as the blaze reduced most of the city to rubble.

Videos shared by locals on social media show the historic city reduced to rubble – the frightening situation described as “apocalyptic”.

Authorities and business owners have confirmed that several tourist attractions in the city were lost as a result of the disaster. While the before and after pictures of the popular Lahaina banyan tree broke many hearts, singer Mike Fleetwood confirmed that his famous restaurant and bar on Front Street was destroyed in the fires.

Travel consultant Jim Bendt is reportedly in touch with people in Hawaii.

He told CNN: “Our local contacts have informed us that damage in the Lahaina area is limited. The big resort areas like Ka’anapali, Kapalua and Wailea were not part of the fire.”

The governor of Hawaii expects more victims

State Gov. Josh Green has expressed concern that the death toll from the wildfires may exceed the death toll from the 1960 tsunami that struck the Big Island and claimed 61 lives.

As of Thursday afternoon, officials declared 53 people dead, fearing more deaths. Green said: “This time it’s very likely that our death toll will be significantly higher, I’m afraid.”

He added that “perhaps more than 1,700 buildings” were lost in the fire. The governor has asked local hotels to provide temporary housing for people in Lahaina as the city has been hardest hit by the disaster.

The Governor of Hawaii’s post that the Maui fires will do more damage than the 1960 disaster that killed 61 people appeared first on HITC.