Escape tourists: Like passing by the origin of a nuclear explosion, the Hawaiian wildfire in the United States has caused 110 deaths on Maui Island | Great Fire | Nuclear Explosion
On the 16th local time, the Governor of Hawaii in the United States announced that the death toll from the Maui Island fire has risen to 110.
Tourists review their escape experiences: like passing by the origin of a nuclear explosion
Before the fire broke out, Maui Island in Hawaii had always been the preferred destination for many Americans to travel and vacation. Recently, the Cardenas from California shared their experiences during their escape.
The Kadenas family stayed at a hotel only 4.8 kilometers away from the heavily affected town of La Haina. Early on the 8th, strong winds blew up on the island, and according to local residents, some power poles were blown off. Angel Cardenas said, "At first we thought it was just a power outage, but when we saw the other side of the beach, La Haina was shrouded in smoke under strong winds, we felt that things were not going well."
On the afternoon of the 8th, although there was no signal on the phone, many tourists were unaware of the imminent danger due to the absence of an alarm on Maui Island and the absence of a mandatory evacuation order. However, the Kadenas couple had already experienced several California wildfires and found that the situation was not right. They began preparing various emergency supplies.
At 3am on the 9th, the fire broke out and they immediately began packing their bags and going to the emergency shelter for the night. Due to the rapid development of the fire, they had to switch from one shelter to another, and finally, with the help of friends, they bought tickets back to California.
Angel Cardenas said, "When we rushed to the airport and passed by La Haina, it felt surreal. It was like the origin of a nuclear explosion, where we could smell the smell of thick smoke and hear people crying. I hope my family can erase these contents from their memory."
The US government's inadequate response to fires
Local residents feel disappointed and angry
After the Maui Island fire in Hawaii, local residents gradually raised doubts about the government. A resident of Maui Island stated that before the fire struck, they did not receive any official fire alarms or shelter guidance. Many people ran in the wrong direction while hastily seeking refuge, and ended up accidentally entering the fire, narrowly escaping death. "I feel a fear and panic that I have never experienced in my life."
In addition, residents of Maui Island expressed disappointment that the US government not only failed to issue fire alarms and shelter guidelines in a timely manner when the fire struck, but also delayed the delivery of post disaster relief supplies to the disaster area. It is understood that the rescue center set up by the US government on Maui Island is nearly 47 kilometers away from the heavily affected area of La Haina by car, and many local transportation vehicles were burned down in the fire, causing transportation of rescue supplies to be blocked.
A US media reporter said he did not see any relief workers in the hardest hit area of La Haina, and local residents were in a state of isolation two days before the fire broke out. "Several people told us not to go down a certain road because the bodies of the victims are on the roadside."
An elderly person who narrowly escaped from the fire in La Haina said, "Many people were burned to death in their own homes, or did not have time to escape from their cars. The US government did not intend to issue timely warnings to us, nor did it prepare to fight the fire. Things could not have been like this now, these people could have survived."
Hawaii Electric Power Company
Accused of poor management
On the 16th local time, according to American media reports, the Hawaiian Electric Power Company faced numerous reviews due to the Maui Island fire incident. A lawsuit filed on the 16th specifically accused the company of negligence in failing to take appropriate measures to prevent the disaster from occurring.
The lawsuit claims that Hawaiian Power Company contributed to the large-scale wildfire that occurred on Maui Island last week. The plaintiff accused the utility company of years of lack of management and stated that the company should shut down its power system before strong winds hit. It is reported that Hawaii Power Company provides electricity to 95% of the state's areas.
According to reports, the lawsuit details in multiple instances and documents that Hawaiian Power Company and public utility officials acknowledge the risk of wildfires, as well as the potential risk of fires caused by collapsed power lines and grid infrastructure. These risks are mentioned in Hawaiian Power Company's press releases, documents submitted to the state government, and its expenditure plans, with the lawsuit claiming that the collapsed power lines and grid equipment were the cause of the disaster.
