How Maui’s wildfires became so apocalyptic

Earlier this week several wildfires engulfed parts of the Hawaiian island of Maui, killing at least 96 people, burning more than 2,000 structures, and forcing people to flee into the ocean for safety.

The wildfires, now among the deadliest in US history, burned hundreds of acres in Hawaii and utterly decimated Lāhainā, the tourism heart of the island and the largest city in its west. Hospitals are overrun with burn patients, thousands of people have lost power, and as of Wednesday morning, 911 service was down in part of the island.

“We have suffered a terrible disaster,” Hawaii Gov. Josh Green said Wednesday. “Much of Lāhainā on Maui has been destroyed and hundreds of local families have been displaced.”