In pics | Wildfires in Spain's Tenerife prompt evacuations of over 26,000 people

<p>Another wildfire in Canada's western province of British Columbia led to fresh evacuation orders on Friday (August 18). Residents from the north Canadian city of Yellowknife rushed to leave the town before flames could block their exit.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A state of emergency was declared on Friday in Kelowna, it is a city which is some 300 kilometres (180 miles) east of Vancouver. It has a population or about 150,000. The province with a coast on Pacific Ocean province has said that next 24 to 48 hours may be the most difficult.</p>

<p>Some of the hills around the city blazed in the predawn light after wildfires that had been burning since Tuesday jumped Lake Okanagan and spread into parts of Kelowna.</p>

<p>"Residents under Evacuation Alert are advised to be ready to leave their home at a moment's notice," the city said in a statement. More than 2,400 properties were being evacuated, officials said.</p>

<p>The reach of flames and disruption caused by the wildfires are indicative of severity of this year's chaos. This is worst-on-record Canadian wildfire season.</p>

<p>Some 885 miles (1,425 km) to the northeast, the massive blaze threatening Yellowknife, the Northwest Territories' capital city, made little progress on Thursday, but changing winds meant it could reach the outskirts by the weekend, said Mike Westwick, the territories' fire information officer.</p>

<p>"The next two days are absolutely critical and will be some of the most challenging of the season," he told the Canadian Broadcasting Corp (CBC) early on Friday.</p>

<p>"We're going to be putting everything we have into slowing that progression down. We're going to be throwing aircraft at it, and when it's safe, we're going to be throwing people at it," Westwick said.</p>

<p>Reuters reported that the fire is about 15 km northwest of the city. However, it is expected that changing winds will drive the flames closer. The only highway out of town is open but fires are burning on either side of it.</p>

<p>"Leaving Yellowknife, you're driving into the smoke," said Brent Saulnier, who had been visiting the city from neighboring Alberta. "It is on fire on both sides of the road. ... It's a very surreal experience."</p>

<p>Many still must leave the city of around 20,000 with the deadline for evacuation set at noon local time (1800 GMT).</p>

<p>"The noon deadline doesn't mean that the highway closes at noon," Yellowknife Mayor Rebecca Alty said in an interview with CBC. "We're just really encouraging folks to go as soon as possible. The highway will continue to be open as long as it's safe."</p>

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Another wildfire in Canada's western province of British Columbia led to fresh evacuation orders on Friday (August 18). Residents from the north Canadian city of Yellowknife rushed to leave the town before flames could block their exit.

Another wildfire in Canada's western province of British Columbia led to fresh evacuation orders on Friday (August 18). Residents from the north Canadian city of Yellowknife rushed to leave the town before flames could block their exit. A state of emergency was declared on Friday in Kelowna, it is a city which is some 300 kilometres (180 miles) east of Vancouver. It has a population or about 150,000. The province with a coast on Pacific Ocean province has said that next 24 to 48 hours may be the most difficult. Some of the hills around the city blazed in the predawn light after wildfires that had been burning since Tuesday jumped Lake Okanagan and spread into parts of Kelowna. "Residents under Evacuation Alert are advised to be ready to leave their home at a moment's notice," the city said in a statement. More than 2,400 properties were being evacuated, officials said. The reach of flames and disruption caused by the wildfires are indicative of severity of this year's chaos. This is worst-on-record Canadian wildfire season. Some 885 miles (1,425 km) to the northeast, the massive blaze threatening Yellowknife, the Northwest Territories' capital city, made little progress on Thursday, but changing winds meant it could reach the outskirts by the weekend, said Mike Westwick, the territories' fire information officer. "The next two days are absolutely critical and will be some of the most challenging of the season," he told the Canadian Broadcasting Corp (CBC) early on Friday. "We're going to be putting everything we have into slowing that progression down. We're going to be throwing aircraft at it, and when it's safe, we're going to be throwing people at it," Westwick said. Reuters reported that the fire is about 15 km northwest of the city. However, it is expected that changing winds will drive the flames closer. The only highway out of town is open but fires are burning on either side of it. "Leaving Yellowknife, you're driving into the smoke," said Brent Saulnier, who had been visiting the city from neighboring Alberta. "It is on fire on both sides of the road. ... It's a very surreal experience." Many still must leave the city of around 20,000 with the deadline for evacuation set at noon local time (1800 GMT). "The noon deadline doesn't mean that the highway closes at noon," Yellowknife Mayor Rebecca Alty said in an interview with CBC. "We're just really encouraging folks to go as soon as possible. The highway will continue to be open as long as it's safe." You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Wildfire spreads in Western Canada's British Columbia, triggers fresh evacuation

<p>Albanian police said on Saturday (August 19) that they had arrested four people in last 24 hour for causing fires just as soldiers and firefighter fought spreading wildfire in the country's touristic southern coastal area.</p>

<p>An army helicopter was seen taking water from the Ionian Sea to douse flames on the hills near the tourist village of Qeparo.</p>

<p>It is a practice of many farmers in Albania to set afire cultivated fields to clear stubble, weeds and waste prior to sowing a new crop. Fourteen people were identified and charged in the country in July for starting wildfires.</p>

<p>Two farmers were arrested over start of a fire close to Qeparo. The fire burnt dozens of hectares and endangered houses and olive tree plantations, according to the police.</p>

<p>A drone footage was released by the police showing two police officials running after one of the men on a hill before eventually arresting him.</p>

<p>Police said two other people in the eastern town of Elbasan were also arrested after they set ablaze their land but the fire soon went out of control burning large areas.</p>

<p>Albania's Ministry of Defence said 95 fires had been reported in the first two weeks of August, compared to 201 fires in June and July.</p>

<p>The country's army has said that 40 soldiers have been sent to help local authorities fight the fire. The soldiers have been provided with shovels and means to carry water on their backs on hills.</p>

<p>Police said two people in the eastern town of Elbasan were also arrested for burning their land after the fire went out of control and spread to other areas.</p>

<p>Police appealed citizens not to "light any fire under any circumstances because this action constitutes a crime and punishable by law."</p>

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Albanian police said on Saturday (August 19) that they had arrested four people in last 24 hour for causing fires just as soldiers and firefighter fought spreading wildfire in the country's touristic southern coastal area.

Albanian police said on Saturday (August 19) that they had arrested four people in last 24 hour for causing fires just as soldiers and firefighter fought spreading wildfire in the country's touristic southern coastal area. An army helicopter was seen taking water from the Ionian Sea to douse flames on the hills near the tourist village of Qeparo. It is a practice of many farmers in Albania to set afire cultivated fields to clear stubble, weeds and waste prior to sowing a new crop. Fourteen people were identified and charged in the country in July for starting wildfires. Two farmers were arrested over start of a fire close to Qeparo. The fire burnt dozens of hectares and endangered houses and olive tree plantations, according to the police. A drone footage was released by the police showing two police officials running after one of the men on a hill before eventually arresting him. Police said two other people in the eastern town of Elbasan were also arrested after they set ablaze their land but the fire soon went out of control burning large areas. Albania's Ministry of Defence said 95 fires had been reported in the first two weeks of August, compared to 201 fires in June and July. The country's army has said that 40 soldiers have been sent to help local authorities fight the fire. The soldiers have been provided with shovels and means to carry water on their backs on hills. Police said two people in the eastern town of Elbasan were also arrested for burning their land after the fire went out of control and spread to other areas. Police appealed citizens not to "light any fire under any circumstances because this action constitutes a crime and punishable by law." You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Albanian deploys army to battles wildfires, police arrests four for starting blaze

Massive wildfires have prompted firefighters to race against time and evacuate over 20,000 residents to leave their homes. What are the updates? Molly Gambhir brings you a report.

Gravitas: Wildfires burn across Northwest Territories in Canada

<p>Canada's western province of British Columbia, on Friday (August 18), declared a state of emergency after wildfires tore through the mountains above the town of West Kelowna forcing thousands of evacuations.</p>

<p>The officials released a statement saying that the next 24 to 48 hours could be the most critical.</p>

<p>“We are declaring a provincial state of emergency to ensure that we have rapid access to any tools that we may need to respond to this situation. And these tools are necessary to support communities, to support families and support those brave frontline workers who are battling the fires in our forests and in our communities," said British Columbia Premier David Eby.</p>

<p>“That right now we are facing the worst wildfire season in our province's history. This unprecedented situation has come to a head this evening in just the last 24 hours the situation has evolved and deteriorated quite rapidly. In just the last hour we've gone from about 4,500 homes under evacuation to about 15,000 homes, families being evacuated from their homes across the province,” he added.</p>

<p>"Over the past 24 hours, the situation has evolved rapidly and we are in for an extremely challenging situation in the days ahead," the government of British Columbia said in a statement.</p>

<p>"We fought hard last night to protect our community," Jason Brolund, West Kelowna fire chief, told reporters. "Night turned to day because of the orange glow of the clouds and the fire."</p>

<p>The officials further added that more than 2,400 buildings were evacuated and thousands more were on alert. Brolund said that several structures were destroyed in West Kelowna during the night.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:</strong> <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/escalating-wildfire-threatens-washington-state-residents-triggers-urgent-evacuations-626882">Escalating wildfire threatens Washington state residents, triggers urgent evacuations</a></p>

<p>Situated towards the east of Vancouver, West Kelowna is home to 36,000 people. The wildfires also prompted evacuations in Kelowna, where a population of about 150,000 resides.</p>

<h2><strong>Trudeau visits evacuation centre&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, after his visit to an evacuation centre for Northwest Territories residents, said that the government will make all the possible efforts to help communities rebuild the “terrible losses”.</p>

<p>"The federal government is there with the significant military assets. We're coordinating the air evacuations, we're making sure that we're there to respond to all the needs of the community now, and we’ll be there in the coming months and years as we look to keep people safe moving forward even as we rebuild in places where there are terrible losses," the Canadian Prime Minister said.</p>

<p>He also paid tributes to first responders, police and volunteers for all their efforts saying that the way Canadians were looking out for each other was “truly extraordinary”.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"It's, it really is a recognised reflection of the extraordinary generosity not just the people in Edmonton, but people right across, right across the country, welcoming up their home, opening up their homes and their communities to people fleeing what has been an extraordinarily difficult summer," Trudeau said.</p>

<p>"And this is something we've seen right across the country this summer. From the east coast, the fires in Nova Scotia, to dealing with floods across the country with wildfires in just about every province across this country. Terrible loss, increased extreme weather events. And all through it. We've seen Canadians step up, obviously, first responders, firefighters, police, volunteers, Red Cross have been incredible in supporting and responding to people," he added.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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Canada's western province of British Columbia, on Friday (August 18), declared a state of emergency after wildfires tore through the mountains above the town of West Kelowna forcing thousands of evacuations.

Canada's western province of British Columbia, on Friday (August 18), declared a state of emergency after wildfires tore through the mountains above the town of West Kelowna forcing thousands of evacuations. The officials released a statement saying that the next 24 to 48 hours could be the most critical. “We are declaring a provincial state of emergency to ensure that we have rapid access to any tools that we may need to respond to this situation. And these tools are necessary to support communities, to support families and support those brave frontline workers who are battling the fires in our forests and in our communities," said British Columbia Premier David Eby. “That right now we are facing the worst wildfire season in our province's history. This unprecedented situation has come to a head this evening in just the last 24 hours the situation has evolved and deteriorated quite rapidly. In just the last hour we've gone from about 4,500 homes under evacuation to about 15,000 homes, families being evacuated from their homes across the province,” he added. "Over the past 24 hours, the situation has evolved rapidly and we are in for an extremely challenging situation in the days ahead," the government of British Columbia said in a statement. "We fought hard last night to protect our community," Jason Brolund, West Kelowna fire chief, told reporters. "Night turned to day because of the orange glow of the clouds and the fire." The officials further added that more than 2,400 buildings were evacuated and thousands more were on alert. Brolund said that several structures were destroyed in West Kelowna during the night. Also read: Escalating wildfire threatens Washington state residents, triggers urgent evacuations Situated towards the east of Vancouver, West Kelowna is home to 36,000 people. The wildfires also prompted evacuations in Kelowna, where a population of about 150,000 resides. Trudeau visits evacuation centre Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, after his visit to an evacuation centre for Northwest Territories residents, said that the government will make all the possible efforts to help communities rebuild the “terrible losses”. "The federal government is there with the significant military assets. We're coordinating the air evacuations, we're making sure that we're there to respond to all the needs of the community now, and we’ll be there in the coming months and years as we look to keep people safe moving forward even as we rebuild in places where there are terrible losses," the Canadian Prime Minister said. He also paid tributes to first responders, police and volunteers for all their efforts saying that the way Canadians were looking out for each other was “truly extraordinary”. "It's, it really is a recognised reflection of the extraordinary generosity not just the people in Edmonton, but people right across, right across the country, welcoming up their home, opening up their homes and their communities to people fleeing what has been an extraordinarily difficult summer," Trudeau said. "And this is something we've seen right across the country this summer. From the east coast, the fires in Nova Scotia, to dealing with floods across the country with wildfires in just about every province across this country. Terrible loss, increased extreme weather events. And all through it. We've seen Canadians step up, obviously, first responders, firefighters, police, volunteers, Red Cross have been incredible in supporting and responding to people," he added. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Canada: British Columbia declares state of emergency amid ‘worst wildfires’

Hundreds of wildfires burning in Canada's north-west territories have prompted emergency declarations and the evacuations of the capital city Yellowknife - about 20,000 residents are being urged to get out of the way.

Canada crews battle wildfires, entire city evacuates | World News | WION

<p>Canada's biggest city in the Northwest Territories faces an emergency situation as a massive wildfire steadily creeps on to it. As per The Guardian, as of Tuesday night, the huge blaze was just 10 miles (16&nbsp;kilometres) away.</p>

<p>Authorities have sounded an alarm declaring a territory-wide state of emergency and an evacuation order for the outskirts of Yellowknife.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Crisis situation in Yellowknife</strong></h2>

<p>"We find ourselves in a crisis situation and our government is using every tool available to assist," said the territory's minister of environment and climate change, Shane Thompson.</p>

<p>Residents have been ordered to clear a 22-mile stretch of Highway 3 that connects Yellowknife to the rest of Canada.</p>

<p>NWT Fire has warned that the massive blaze would likely reach the highway on Thursday.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/maui-these-highly-trained-dogs-are-on-mission-to-find-wildfire-victims-626124">Maui: These highly-trained dogs are on mission to find wildfire victims</a></strong></p>

<p>"There is a risk to the City of Yellowknife. Our team, alongside the City of Yellowknife, are doing everything possible to slow the growth of this fire and protect the community," said the fire services as quoted by Reuters.</p>

<p>Yellowknife residents have been warned that falling ash and visible smoke are likely in the city as the 163,000-hectares (402,000 acres) fire spreads.</p>

<p>Yellowknife, which is home to 20,000 people, is on high alert. Authorities have warned the residents that a bigger evacuation order may be on its way. Meanwhile, thousands of residents of five other communities in the territory have already been told to evacuate.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Canada's wildfire season</strong></h2>

<p>Canada is currently grappling with its most severe wildfire season on record, with over 1,000 active fires raging across the country. 230 of these, as per The Guardian, are in the Northwest Territories.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hawaii-wildfire-power-lines-likely-caused-mauis-first-reported-fire-625953">A bright flash &amp; fire: Video suggests a tree fell on a power line, setting off the Maui blaze</a></strong></p>

<p>Recently, the hamlet of Enterprise near the Alberta border was nearly obliterated, with 90 per cent of it destroyed by a fire that swept through on Sunday. The nearby community of Hay River is "running out of time" to evacuate, said Mayor Kandis Jameson.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Due to an enduring heat wave, on Tuesday, Western Canada saw 19 daily heat records broken. The heatwave is fuelling the more than a thousand fires plaguing the nation.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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Canada's biggest city in the Northwest Territories faces an emergency situation as a massive wildfire steadily creeps on to it. As per The Guardian, as of Tuesday night, the huge blaze was just 10 miles (16 kilometres) away.

Canada's biggest city in the Northwest Territories faces an emergency situation as a massive wildfire steadily creeps on to it. As per The Guardian, as of Tuesday night, the huge blaze was just 10 miles (16 kilometres) away. Authorities have sounded an alarm declaring a territory-wide state of emergency and an evacuation order for the outskirts of Yellowknife. Crisis situation in Yellowknife "We find ourselves in a crisis situation and our government is using every tool available to assist," said the territory's minister of environment and climate change, Shane Thompson. Residents have been ordered to clear a 22-mile stretch of Highway 3 that connects Yellowknife to the rest of Canada. NWT Fire has warned that the massive blaze would likely reach the highway on Thursday. Also read | Maui: These highly-trained dogs are on mission to find wildfire victims "There is a risk to the City of Yellowknife. Our team, alongside the City of Yellowknife, are doing everything possible to slow the growth of this fire and protect the community," said the fire services as quoted by Reuters. Yellowknife residents have been warned that falling ash and visible smoke are likely in the city as the 163,000-hectares (402,000 acres) fire spreads. Yellowknife, which is home to 20,000 people, is on high alert. Authorities have warned the residents that a bigger evacuation order may be on its way. Meanwhile, thousands of residents of five other communities in the territory have already been told to evacuate. Canada's wildfire season Canada is currently grappling with its most severe wildfire season on record, with over 1,000 active fires raging across the country. 230 of these, as per The Guardian, are in the Northwest Territories. Also read | A bright flash & fire: Video suggests a tree fell on a power line, setting off the Maui blaze Recently, the hamlet of Enterprise near the Alberta border was nearly obliterated, with 90 per cent of it destroyed by a fire that swept through on Sunday. The nearby community of Hay River is "running out of time" to evacuate, said Mayor Kandis Jameson. Due to an enduring heat wave, on Tuesday, Western Canada saw 19 daily heat records broken. The heatwave is fuelling the more than a thousand fires plaguing the nation. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Massive 402,000 acre wildfire threatens Canada's Yellowknife, authorities sound alarm

<p>The United States President Joe Biden and the increasing incidence of his gaffes are quite common. Recently, he mistakenly referred to the Grand Canyon as one of the "nine" wonders of the world.&nbsp;</p>

<p>But now, he is facing criticism for forgetting the name of Maui, which has been destroyed because of the Hawaii wildfires, which have killed more than 100 people while the toll is expected to go up.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A report by The New York Post mentioned that on Tuesday Biden finally spoke out about the deadly wildfires in Hawaii, but he seemed to forget the name of Maui.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He apparently also said that while he typically prefers to keep his talks brief, he would make an exception in this case.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hawaii-wildfire-international-space-station-shares-image-taken-from-space-626273">A picture taken from space shows just how massive the Hawaii wildfires are</a>&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>As quoted by NYP, he said, "I apologise because I try very hard to keep my speeches between 15 and 18 minutes, but I got to talk a little bit about Hawaii."&nbsp;</p>

<p>He began by highlighting the actions taken by the US government to control the wildfire situation in Hawaii, noting that he had given the victims federal help, including a $700 one-time award from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).&nbsp;</p>

<p>The amount has also been slammed by online users as many people have said on social media platforms that the Biden administration is willing to provide Ukraine with millions of dollars, but not to Hawaii.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As per the report, he got confused with Hawaii, known as the Big Island, and Maui.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He said: "The Army helicopters helped fire suppression efforts on the Big Island because there's still some burning on the Big Island — not the one that, not the one where you see on television all the time."&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Bidens to visit the crisis-hit region&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>Biden and his wife Jill Biden will visit Hawaii next week, the White House said Wednesday (August 16).&nbsp;</p>

<p>A White House press release read: Biden and the first lady on Monday will "meet with first responders, survivors, as well as federal, state, and local officials" on Maui.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em><br />
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The United States President Joe Biden and the increasing incidence of his gaffes are quite common. Recently, he mistakenly referred to the Grand Canyon as one of the "nine" wonders of the world.

The United States President Joe Biden and the increasing incidence of his gaffes are quite common. Recently, he mistakenly referred to the Grand Canyon as one of the "nine" wonders of the world. But now, he is facing criticism for forgetting the name of Maui, which has been destroyed because of the Hawaii wildfires, which have killed more than 100 people while the toll is expected to go up. A report by The New York Post mentioned that on Tuesday Biden finally spoke out about the deadly wildfires in Hawaii, but he seemed to forget the name of Maui. He apparently also said that while he typically prefers to keep his talks brief, he would make an exception in this case. Also read: A picture taken from space shows just how massive the Hawaii wildfires are As quoted by NYP, he said, "I apologise because I try very hard to keep my speeches between 15 and 18 minutes, but I got to talk a little bit about Hawaii." He began by highlighting the actions taken by the US government to control the wildfire situation in Hawaii, noting that he had given the victims federal help, including a $700 one-time award from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The amount has also been slammed by online users as many people have said on social media platforms that the Biden administration is willing to provide Ukraine with millions of dollars, but not to Hawaii. As per the report, he got confused with Hawaii, known as the Big Island, and Maui. He said: "The Army helicopters helped fire suppression efforts on the Big Island because there's still some burning on the Big Island — not the one that, not the one where you see on television all the time." Bidens to visit the crisis-hit region Biden and his wife Jill Biden will visit Hawaii next week, the White House said Wednesday (August 16). A White House press release read: Biden and the first lady on Monday will "meet with first responders, survivors, as well as federal, state, and local officials" on Maui. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Did Joe Biden forget 'Maui' during his address on catastrophic Hawaii wildfires?

Wildfires in the Maui county have wreaked havoc. The death toll has now risen to at least 110, while search operations continue. U.S. President and first lady Jill Biden will head to Hawaii next week and meet survivors of the horrific wildfire.

US President Joe Biden to meet survivors, first responders

<p><meta name="uuid" content="uuidqOQwPouATPyc" /><meta charset="utf-8" />As the Hawaiian island of Maui recovers from the deadly wildfires, specialised search dogs have been pressed into service to search for the missing victims. These cadaver dogs can distinguish human remains from those of pets and other animals.&nbsp;</p>

<p>At least 20 cadaver dogs have&nbsp;been working with the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) rescue teams since Monday (August 14), supporting state and local officials, combing through the ashes.</p>

<p>Each cadaver dog that is currently involved with the search operation has to undergo a year of intense training, Even then, it takes a dog born with a particular personality to comb through the ashes and find the human remains, according to Mary Cablk, an expert in detection and systems at the Desert Research Institute in Nevada, where such canines are trained.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“Dogs that really want to play, that are obsessive about their toy, that are confident and agile, that are not afraid of loud noises or weird surfaces, bring a lot to the table,” Cablk was quoted as saying by Reuters.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/maui-family-stuck-in-deadly-wildfires-saved-by-this-novel-apple-emergency-feature-625663" target="_blank"><strong>Also read | Maui: Family stuck in deadly wildfires saved by THIS novel Apple emergency feature</strong></a></p>

<p>The dogs can search up to a couple of dozen homes’ burned down “footprints” each day. However, the number varies, depending on the conditions. According to Cablk, cadaver dogs are trained to not get excited when they find human remains. Unlike other trained dogs which run to the handler all excited, the dogs working fires will simply lay down once they have found something.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The cadaver dogs, akin to other canine&nbsp;training dogs, receive a reward upon the completion of the task. If they successfully locate the remains, the handler gives them a chew toy to play with.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/maui-wildfires-among-the-deadliest-in-us-history-wion-climate-tracker-625308"><strong>Watch |&nbsp;Maui wildfires among the deadliest in US history | WION Climate Tracker</strong></a></p>

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<h2><strong>Task remains monumental</strong></h2>

<p>Despite the dogs and their uncanny ability to detect human flesh amid the ashes, the task remains monumental. Over 1,300 are still reported missing&nbsp;on the island.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Maui wildfire&nbsp;has been ranked the fifth-deadliest wildland fire in US history. The fires started on August 8 and have since killed at least 101 people. The death toll has surpassed the Camp Fire wildfire in California which spread across Butte County in November 2018 and claimed the lives of 85 people.</p>

<p>The deadliest wildfire in US history remains the October 1871 wildfire in Peshtigo, Wisconsin where over 1,500 were killed.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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As the Hawaiian island of Maui recovers from the deadly wildfires, specialised search dogs have been pressed into service to search for the missing victims. These cadaver dogs can distinguish human remains from those of pets and other animals.

As the Hawaiian island of Maui recovers from the deadly wildfires, specialised search dogs have been pressed into service to search for the missing victims. These cadaver dogs can distinguish human remains from those of pets and other animals. At least 20 cadaver dogs have been working with the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) rescue teams since Monday (August 14), supporting state and local officials, combing through the ashes. Each cadaver dog that is currently involved with the search operation has to undergo a year of intense training, Even then, it takes a dog born with a particular personality to comb through the ashes and find the human remains, according to Mary Cablk, an expert in detection and systems at the Desert Research Institute in Nevada, where such canines are trained. “Dogs that really want to play, that are obsessive about their toy, that are confident and agile, that are not afraid of loud noises or weird surfaces, bring a lot to the table,” Cablk was quoted as saying by Reuters. Also read | Maui: Family stuck in deadly wildfires saved by THIS novel Apple emergency feature The dogs can search up to a couple of dozen homes’ burned down “footprints” each day. However, the number varies, depending on the conditions. According to Cablk, cadaver dogs are trained to not get excited when they find human remains. Unlike other trained dogs which run to the handler all excited, the dogs working fires will simply lay down once they have found something. The cadaver dogs, akin to other canine training dogs, receive a reward upon the completion of the task. If they successfully locate the remains, the handler gives them a chew toy to play with. Watch | Maui wildfires among the deadliest in US history | WION Climate Tracker Task remains monumental Despite the dogs and their uncanny ability to detect human flesh amid the ashes, the task remains monumental. Over 1,300 are still reported missing on the island. The Maui wildfire has been ranked the fifth-deadliest wildland fire in US history. The fires started on August 8 and have since killed at least 101 people. The death toll has surpassed the Camp Fire wildfire in California which spread across Butte County in November 2018 and claimed the lives of 85 people. The deadliest wildfire in US history remains the October 1871 wildfire in Peshtigo, Wisconsin where over 1,500 were killed. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Maui: These highly-trained dogs are on mission to find wildfire victims

The confirmed number of deaths in the Maui wildfires has risen to 100, Governor Josh Green said. Adding to it, he also said that they are prepared for many more tragic stories.

Hawaii: Maui wildfire is deadliest disaster; Governor says, 'we're prepared for many tragic stories'

The wildfire that swept across Hawaii a week ago, turned one of the nation's most celebrated islands into an ashen moonscape. The wildfires have killed at least 101 people. A number that officials warn could double as the search continues.

Joe Biden to visit Hawaii to review recovery efforts as death toll crosses 100

<p>Hawaii is grappling with the&nbsp;deadliest wildfires seen in over a century with the death toll reaching 101. But now a new wave of challenges has emerged which, if anything, only further compounds the island's struggle. In a disturbing trend, looters are now reportedly attempting to capitalise on the wildfire tragedy, media reports said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Reports highlight several instances of desperate individuals raiding the few surviving businesses in Lahaina. A 48-year-old resident Bryan Sizemore, who runs a business on the island, said that he recently encountered looters who had him at gunpoint as they tried to rob&nbsp;some items and gas from his premises.</p>

<p>It is worth noting that with the absence of basic resources, some individuals have reportedly resorted to extreme measures to sustain themselves.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/georgia-governor-brian-kemp-takes-to-twitter-to-refute-donald-trumps-allegations-of-election-theft-625869">Georgia Governor Brian Kemp takes to Twitter to refute Donald Trump's allegations of election theft</a></p>

<p>“My boat exploded as a result of the flames, but my business somehow made it. But there’s been looters at my place, people stealing gas," Sizemore reportedly said, adding, "I’ve been sleeping there in my car... They’re poking holes into the gas tanks and draining them off."</p>

<h2><strong>Struggles amid rubble</strong></h2>

<p>The tragic wildfires not only took lives and homes but the affected individuals and displaced families are grappling with feelings of isolation.</p>

<p>"Do not go to Lahaina thinking that you’re gonna get fed when you realise there are no resources," Cassidy Keilieha reportedly said at the War Memorial Complex donation centre in Wailuku.</p>

<p>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hunter-bidens-lawyer-steps-down-to-testify-as-witness-in-doj-investigation-625865">Hunter Biden's lawyer steps down, to testify as witness in DOJ investigation</a></p>

<p>"There are no stores out there for you. Everything is empty. There’s nothing out there,"&nbsp;Keilieha said, adding, "A lot of people are angry. A lot of bad things are happening. People are going into survival mode."</p>

<h2><strong>Uncertain futures</strong></h2>

<p>Amidst the ongoing tragedy, disturbing reports reveal real estate investors contacting fire survivors with the intention&nbsp;to purchase what remains of their properties.&nbsp;"This is disgusting," one Maui resident Tiare Lawrence reportedly told a media outlet adding, "Lahaina is not for sale."</p>

<p><strong>Watch | Poland beefs defence amid Russia-Ukraine war</strong></p>

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<p>As search and recovery efforts continue, the true extent of the devastation is gradually unfolding, with the death toll&nbsp;rising with each passing day.&nbsp;</p>

<p>While the death toll continues to rise, cadaver dogs scour the wreckage in search of remains. "I hate to give an exact estimate because we want to make sure that we are precise and methodical and respectful as we go through this,”&nbsp;Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Deanne Criswell said.&nbsp;</p>

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Hawaii is grappling with the deadliest wildfires seen in over a century with the death toll reaching 101. But now a new wave of challenges has emerged which, if anything, only further compounds the island's struggle.

Hawaii is grappling with the deadliest wildfires seen in over a century with the death toll reaching 101. But now a new wave of challenges has emerged which, if anything, only further compounds the island's struggle. In a disturbing trend, looters are now reportedly attempting to capitalise on the wildfire tragedy, media reports said. Reports highlight several instances of desperate individuals raiding the few surviving businesses in Lahaina. A 48-year-old resident Bryan Sizemore, who runs a business on the island, said that he recently encountered looters who had him at gunpoint as they tried to rob some items and gas from his premises. It is worth noting that with the absence of basic resources, some individuals have reportedly resorted to extreme measures to sustain themselves. Also Read | Georgia Governor Brian Kemp takes to Twitter to refute Donald Trump's allegations of election theft “My boat exploded as a result of the flames, but my business somehow made it. But there’s been looters at my place, people stealing gas," Sizemore reportedly said, adding, "I’ve been sleeping there in my car... They’re poking holes into the gas tanks and draining them off." Struggles amid rubble The tragic wildfires not only took lives and homes but the affected individuals and displaced families are grappling with feelings of isolation. "Do not go to Lahaina thinking that you’re gonna get fed when you realise there are no resources," Cassidy Keilieha reportedly said at the War Memorial Complex donation centre in Wailuku. Also Read | Hunter Biden's lawyer steps down, to testify as witness in DOJ investigation "There are no stores out there for you. Everything is empty. There’s nothing out there," Keilieha said, adding, "A lot of people are angry. A lot of bad things are happening. People are going into survival mode." Uncertain futures Amidst the ongoing tragedy, disturbing reports reveal real estate investors contacting fire survivors with the intention to purchase what remains of their properties. "This is disgusting," one Maui resident Tiare Lawrence reportedly told a media outlet adding, "Lahaina is not for sale." Watch | Poland beefs defence amid Russia-Ukraine war × As search and recovery efforts continue, the true extent of the devastation is gradually unfolding, with the death toll rising with each passing day. While the death toll continues to rise, cadaver dogs scour the wreckage in search of remains. "I hate to give an exact estimate because we want to make sure that we are precise and methodical and respectful as we go through this,” Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Deanne Criswell said. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. ×

'Robbed at gunpoint in Maui': Chaotic scenes after devastating wildfires in Hawaii

<p>Online platforms have been inundated with false narratives regarding the devastating wildfires in Hawaii, media reports said while detailing such instances. These misleading claims suggest that the catastrophic fires were orchestrated by employing advanced technology like a laser beam. These kinds of things usually crop up that challenge something and say that different opinions are being silenced so some can push political ideas and not give much importance to how climate change affects severe weather and other environmental issues.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Orchestrating fires?</strong></h2>

<p>Reportedly, a significant proportion of the misleading posts insinuate that "elites" or governmental organisations intentionally ignited the wildfires.&nbsp;Several videos and images have been circulated, amassing millions of views, claiming that the wildfires were not a natural disaster but instead the result of a "directed energy weapon" or a "laser beam" explosion. Garnering 10 million views, one video purportedly depicts a massive explosion in Maui before the fires.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">When has Hawaii ever had wild fires that destroys homes and melts paint off cars ....<br />
<br />
Askin for a meteorologist .......... <a href="https://t.co/Q8kifZjTG3">pic.twitter.com/Q8kifZjTG3</a></p>
— G™️©️®️ (@dat_muvvafugga) <a href="https://twitter.com/dat_muvvafugga/status/1690384064446906368?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 12, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>However, this video was originally a viral TikTok clip showing a transformer explosion in Chile. Chilean TV confirmed that the explosion resulted from a blown transformer due to strong winds.</p>

<p>One of the other images displayed a burning church in Hawaii, viewed 9 million times. There are claims of a laser beam rising from the structure into the sky. Nevertheless, this image has been digitally manipulated.</p>

<p>The original Associated Press news agency photo, captured on August 8, shows the Waiola Church engulfed in flames without any visible laser beam.</p>

<h2><strong>Other misleading images</strong></h2>

<p>Two other misleading images have also gained traction. One portrays a fireball and a streak of light rising towards the night sky, alongside claims that wildfires are not a natural phenomena.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">What are these flashes of light going off during the fires in Maui, Hawaii?<br />
<a href="https://t.co/kLaMNwZnij">pic.twitter.com/kLaMNwZnij</a></p>
— TaraBull (@TaraBull808) <a href="https://twitter.com/TaraBull808/status/1691193568575262722?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 14, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>However, research reportedly revealed that this image is from a controlled burn at an Ohio oil refinery in January 2018. The streak of light, termed a "light pillar," arises from reflections of ice crystals on cold days.</p>

<p>Similarly, an image alleging a colossal beam of light in Maui right before the wildfires actually depicts the launch of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket in California, dated May 2018.</p>

<p>Some claims have circulated about videos showing trees still standing amidst burnt houses and vehicles, with individuals using these images to support theories of deliberate fires or hidden causes.</p>

<p>One viral post on&nbsp;X shows a video displaying destruction and shows how&nbsp;trees have survived.&nbsp;"Everything is burnt but the trees, but don't point that out or you're a conspiracy theorist."&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Speculations of "elite land grab"</strong></h2>

<p>Parallel to the "directed energy weapon" rumours, viral posts speculate that affluent residents and second-home owners in Hawaii intentionally triggered wildfires to seize valuable land.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Another viral thread, seen by millions, lists wealthy property owners in Maui, offers aerial footage of Lahaina, and suggests suspicious patterns of destruction. Media reports said that there is no concrete evidence which supports the notion that these fires were deliberately ignited for land acquisition purposes.</p>

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Online platforms have been inundated with false narratives regarding the devastating wildfires in Hawaii, media reports said while detailing such instances. These misleading claims suggest that the catastrophic fires were orchestrated by employing advanced technology like a laser beam.

Online platforms have been inundated with false narratives regarding the devastating wildfires in Hawaii, media reports said while detailing such instances. These misleading claims suggest that the catastrophic fires were orchestrated by employing advanced technology like a laser beam. These kinds of things usually crop up that challenge something and say that different opinions are being silenced so some can push political ideas and not give much importance to how climate change affects severe weather and other environmental issues. Orchestrating fires? Reportedly, a significant proportion of the misleading posts insinuate that "elites" or governmental organisations intentionally ignited the wildfires. Several videos and images have been circulated, amassing millions of views, claiming that the wildfires were not a natural disaster but instead the result of a "directed energy weapon" or a "laser beam" explosion. Garnering 10 million views, one video purportedly depicts a massive explosion in Maui before the fires. When has Hawaii ever had wild fires that destroys homes and melts paint off cars .... Askin for a meteorologist .......... pic.twitter.com/Q8kifZjTG3 — G™️©️®️ (@dat_muvvafugga) August 12, 2023 × However, this video was originally a viral TikTok clip showing a transformer explosion in Chile. Chilean TV confirmed that the explosion resulted from a blown transformer due to strong winds. One of the other images displayed a burning church in Hawaii, viewed 9 million times. There are claims of a laser beam rising from the structure into the sky. Nevertheless, this image has been digitally manipulated. The original Associated Press news agency photo, captured on August 8, shows the Waiola Church engulfed in flames without any visible laser beam. Other misleading images Two other misleading images have also gained traction. One portrays a fireball and a streak of light rising towards the night sky, alongside claims that wildfires are not a natural phenomena. What are these flashes of light going off during the fires in Maui, Hawaii? pic.twitter.com/kLaMNwZnij — TaraBull (@TaraBull808) August 14, 2023 × However, research reportedly revealed that this image is from a controlled burn at an Ohio oil refinery in January 2018. The streak of light, termed a "light pillar," arises from reflections of ice crystals on cold days. Similarly, an image alleging a colossal beam of light in Maui right before the wildfires actually depicts the launch of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket in California, dated May 2018. Some claims have circulated about videos showing trees still standing amidst burnt houses and vehicles, with individuals using these images to support theories of deliberate fires or hidden causes. One viral post on X shows a video displaying destruction and shows how trees have survived. "Everything is burnt but the trees, but don't point that out or you're a conspiracy theorist." Speculations of "elite land grab" Parallel to the "directed energy weapon" rumours, viral posts speculate that affluent residents and second-home owners in Hawaii intentionally triggered wildfires to seize valuable land. Another viral thread, seen by millions, lists wealthy property owners in Maui, offers aerial footage of Lahaina, and suggests suspicious patterns of destruction. Media reports said that there is no concrete evidence which supports the notion that these fires were deliberately ignited for land acquisition purposes. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. ×

Video | Hawaii wildfire 'conspiracy theories' garner millions of views online

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<p>The death toll due to wildfires in Hawaii's Maui has climbed to 96&nbsp;and hundreds of people are reported to be still missing. This is the deadliest fire in the United States in more than a century. Hawaiian authorities have begun a probe into the handling of the fire which started four days back. As per the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the cost to build Lahaina was estimated at $5.5 billion.&nbsp;</p>

<p>There is growing anger among residents as they pointed out that no warnings were issued by officials about the fire. On Saturday, authorities vowed to examine Hawaii's emergency notification systems.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Here's a look at the latest updates:</strong></h2>

<p><strong>&gt;</strong> Till now, 96&nbsp;people have died due to the wildfires, according to the Maui County website. On Saturday, Hawaii Governor Josh Green warned that the death toll would continue to increase as more victims were discovered. And as per Maui County Police Chief John Pelletier, dogs trained to detect bodies have covered only three per cent of the search area.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>&gt;</strong> More than 2,200 structures were damaged or destroyed as the fire tore through Lahaina, according to a report by the news agency AFP. A town with a population of over 12,000, Lahania has been reduced to ruins, its lively hotels and restaurants turned to ashes.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>&gt;</strong> On Saturday night, firefighters were battling at least one other blaze in Maui. The Pulehu/Kihei fire in the south was declared 100 per cent contained.</p>

<p><strong>&gt;</strong> Speaking to CNN, Hawaii Congresswoman Jill Tokuda said that officials were taken by surprise by the tragedy. "We underestimated the lethality, the quickness of fire," she said.</p>

<p><strong>&gt;</strong> The disaster began just after midnight on Tuesday when a brush fire was reported in the town of Kula, roughly 55 kilometres from Lahaina. Five hours later, there were power cuts across the town.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>&gt;</strong> Maui also suffered numerous power outages during the crisis, preventing many residents from receiving emergency alerts on their cell phones&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>&gt;</strong> Speaking to AFP, a resident said, "The mountain behind us caught on fire and nobody told us jack. You know when we found that there was a fire? When it was across the street from us."</p>

<p><strong>&gt;</strong> On Saturday, Governor Green said officials secured 1,000 hotel rooms for people who lost their homes and were arranging rental properties to serve as housing at no cost to families. A report by the news agency Reuters said over 1,400 people had been taken in at emergency shelters.</p>

<p><strong>&gt;</strong> Defending the immediate response, Green said the situation had been complicated by the presence of multiple fires and by the strength of the winds. "Having seen that storm, we have doubts that much could have been done with a fiery fast-moving fire like that," he added.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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The death toll due to wildfires in Hawaii's Maui has climbed to 96 and hundreds of people are reported to be still missing. This is the deadliest fire in the United States in more than a century.

The death toll due to wildfires in Hawaii's Maui has climbed to 96 and hundreds of people are reported to be still missing. This is the deadliest fire in the United States in more than a century. Hawaiian authorities have begun a probe into the handling of the fire which started four days back. As per the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the cost to build Lahaina was estimated at $5.5 billion. There is growing anger among residents as they pointed out that no warnings were issued by officials about the fire. On Saturday, authorities vowed to examine Hawaii's emergency notification systems. Here's a look at the latest updates: > Till now, 96 people have died due to the wildfires, according to the Maui County website. On Saturday, Hawaii Governor Josh Green warned that the death toll would continue to increase as more victims were discovered. And as per Maui County Police Chief John Pelletier, dogs trained to detect bodies have covered only three per cent of the search area. > More than 2,200 structures were damaged or destroyed as the fire tore through Lahaina, according to a report by the news agency AFP. A town with a population of over 12,000, Lahania has been reduced to ruins, its lively hotels and restaurants turned to ashes. > On Saturday night, firefighters were battling at least one other blaze in Maui. The Pulehu/Kihei fire in the south was declared 100 per cent contained. > Speaking to CNN, Hawaii Congresswoman Jill Tokuda said that officials were taken by surprise by the tragedy. "We underestimated the lethality, the quickness of fire," she said. > The disaster began just after midnight on Tuesday when a brush fire was reported in the town of Kula, roughly 55 kilometres from Lahaina. Five hours later, there were power cuts across the town. > Maui also suffered numerous power outages during the crisis, preventing many residents from receiving emergency alerts on their cell phones > Speaking to AFP, a resident said, "The mountain behind us caught on fire and nobody told us jack. You know when we found that there was a fire? When it was across the street from us." > On Saturday, Governor Green said officials secured 1,000 hotel rooms for people who lost their homes and were arranging rental properties to serve as housing at no cost to families. A report by the news agency Reuters said over 1,400 people had been taken in at emergency shelters. > Defending the immediate response, Green said the situation had been complicated by the presence of multiple fires and by the strength of the winds. "Having seen that storm, we have doubts that much could have been done with a fiery fast-moving fire like that," he added. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Maui wildfires: Death toll climbs to 96, hundreds still missing | Top points

Bolivia is facing weather extremes on both ends. the eastern part of the South American nation is battling with raging wildfires. While the western part is under a cold spell, experiencing unexpected snowfall.

Eastern Bolivia battles raging wildfires, western Bolivia faces a cold spell

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<p>Hawaii's Attorney General Anne Lopez said on Friday (August 11) that she <strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/maui-wildfire-death-toll-reaches-67-making-it-hawaiis-deadliest-natural-disaster-624718">was opening an investigation into how authorities responded to devastating wildfires </a></strong>which have left 89 people already dead and the toll is expected to rise as search and rescue operations are finally picking up in the regions devastated and burnt down completely. "The Department of the Attorney General will be conducting a comprehensive review of critical decision-making and standing policies leading up to, during, and after the wildfires on Maui and Hawai'i islands this week," a statement from Lopez's office said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"The Department of the Attorney General shares the grief felt by all in Hawaii, and our hearts go out to everyone affected by this tragedy," the statement said. It added that Lopez's department was committed to understanding the decisions that were made before and during the wildfires and to sharing the results of this review with the public. "As we continue to support all aspects of the ongoing relief effort, now is the time to begin this process of understanding," the statement also said.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Sixty-seven dead so far; 85% of fire contained</strong></h2>

<p>The death toll due to the wildfires has climbed to 89, and officials have warned that search teams with cadaver dogs could still find more bodies. In a statement, Maui County said that the Lahaina wildfire that spread from the brush to town was still burning but 85% of it has been contained. Two other wildfires on the island were 80 per cent&nbsp;and 50 per cent&nbsp;contained, the statement added.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/maui-wildfires-largest-banyan-tree-200-year-old-church-among-landmarks-charred-624490">Maui wildfires: Largest banyan tree, 200-year-old church among landmarks charred</a></strong></p>

<p>Attorney General Lopez's announcement to open the investigation comes amid mounting criticism over the official response to the wildfires. Residents of Lahaina have complained that there were no warnings about the blaze, which trapped people in the town.</p>

<p>According to a report by the news agency Reuters, county officials began allowing Lahaina residents back to their homes on Friday, even though much of Maui's western side remained without power and water.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Police barricaded central Lahaina as health officials warned the burnt areas were highly toxic and that inhaling dust and airborne particles was hazardous.</p>

<h2><strong>Multiple flights to Maui cancelled</strong></h2>

<p>Multiple cities across the United States cancelled their flights to Maui due to the wildfires. On Thursday, United Airlines Holdings said it cancelled flights to Kahului Airport in Maui and would fly empty aircraft to the wild-wire hit region to bring passengers to the mainland. The Alaska Air Group flagged some delays earlier on Thursday but said it was sticking to its regular flight schedule to Maui.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The group also said that it was adding an extra flight to facilitate rescue efforts and may consider including more depending on the situation.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em><br />
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Hawaii's Attorney General Anne Lopez said on Friday (August 11) that she was opening an investigation into how authorities responded to devastating wildfires which have left 89 people already dead and the toll is expected to rise as search and rescue operations are finally picking up in the regions devastated and burnt down completely.

Hawaii's Attorney General Anne Lopez said on Friday (August 11) that she was opening an investigation into how authorities responded to devastating wildfires which have left 89 people already dead and the toll is expected to rise as search and rescue operations are finally picking up in the regions devastated and burnt down completely. "The Department of the Attorney General will be conducting a comprehensive review of critical decision-making and standing policies leading up to, during, and after the wildfires on Maui and Hawai'i islands this week," a statement from Lopez's office said. "The Department of the Attorney General shares the grief felt by all in Hawaii, and our hearts go out to everyone affected by this tragedy," the statement said. It added that Lopez's department was committed to understanding the decisions that were made before and during the wildfires and to sharing the results of this review with the public. "As we continue to support all aspects of the ongoing relief effort, now is the time to begin this process of understanding," the statement also said. Sixty-seven dead so far; 85% of fire contained The death toll due to the wildfires has climbed to 89, and officials have warned that search teams with cadaver dogs could still find more bodies. In a statement, Maui County said that the Lahaina wildfire that spread from the brush to town was still burning but 85% of it has been contained. Two other wildfires on the island were 80 per cent and 50 per cent contained, the statement added. Also read | Maui wildfires: Largest banyan tree, 200-year-old church among landmarks charred Attorney General Lopez's announcement to open the investigation comes amid mounting criticism over the official response to the wildfires. Residents of Lahaina have complained that there were no warnings about the blaze, which trapped people in the town. According to a report by the news agency Reuters, county officials began allowing Lahaina residents back to their homes on Friday, even though much of Maui's western side remained without power and water. Police barricaded central Lahaina as health officials warned the burnt areas were highly toxic and that inhaling dust and airborne particles was hazardous. Multiple flights to Maui cancelled Multiple cities across the United States cancelled their flights to Maui due to the wildfires. On Thursday, United Airlines Holdings said it cancelled flights to Kahului Airport in Maui and would fly empty aircraft to the wild-wire hit region to bring passengers to the mainland. The Alaska Air Group flagged some delays earlier on Thursday but said it was sticking to its regular flight schedule to Maui. The group also said that it was adding an extra flight to facilitate rescue efforts and may consider including more depending on the situation. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Maui wildfires: Hawaii attorney general opens probe as death toll climbs to 89

<p>A historic church in Lahaina in the Maui County of Hawaii has miraculously escaped the wildfire, reported New York Post. The church is reportedly still standing unscathed even when fire ripped through Maui, killing more than 80 people. The death toll is feared to increase.</p>

<p>New York Post reported that Maria Lanakila Catholic Church, which first opened in 1846, was seen in a TikTok video. It was not damaged and was still standing. The videos were being shared on social media.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">HAWAII<br />
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Maria Lanakila Catholic Church completely unharmed by fire while everything around it is burnt to the ground. <a href="https://t.co/WCsw9b4U9T">pic.twitter.com/WCsw9b4U9T</a></p>
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<p>“Basically what we know is the fact that all of Lahaina Town has been consumed by fire. It’s all gone. The church, Maria Lanakila [Our Lady of Victory], is still standing, as is the rectory,” said Terrence Watanabe, pastor of the nearby parish of St. Anthony’s. He was quoted by The Pillar.</p>

<h2><strong>Deadliest fire in more than a century</strong></h2>

<p>The death toll at the time of publishing this story was 89. This has made Maui wildfires the deadliest wildfires in the US in more than a century.</p>

<p><strong>Watch | Hawaii scarred by deadly Maui wildfires</strong></p>

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<p>On Saturday (August 13), search teams with cadaver dogs went through the ruins of Lahaina. The officials took estimate of the damage for days after the blazing fires engulfed the historic town destroying buildings and melting cars.</p>

<p>The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has estimated that the cost to rebuild Lahaina was estimated at USD 5.5 billion. More than 2200 structures have been damaged and more than 2100 acres have been burned.<br />
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Governor Josh Green warned on Saturday that death toll due to fire is likely to rise. He was talking in a press conference.</p>

<p>Officials vowed to examine the state's emergency notification systems after some residents questioned whether more could have been done to warn people before the fire overtook their homes. Some were forced to jump into the Pacific Ocean to escape.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/maui-wildfires-hawaii-attorney-general-opens-probe-as-death-toll-nears-70-624746">Maui wildfires: Hawaii attorney general opens probe as death toll climbs to 80</a></strong></p>

<p>Reuters reported that sirens placed around the island, intended to warn of impending natural disasters, never sounded. There were widespread power and cellular outages which prevented people from getting alert in any other forms.</p>

<p>Anne Lopez, the state's attorney general, said she was launching review of decision-making both before and during the fire.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Local officials have described a nightmarish confluence of factors, including communications network failures, powerful wind gusts from an offshore hurricane and a separate wildfire dozens of miles away, that made it nearly impossible to coordinate in real time with the emergency management agencies that would typically issue warnings and evacuation orders.</p>

<p>Maui wildfires have now become the worst natural disaster in history.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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A historic church in Lahaina in the Maui County of Hawaii has miraculously escaped the wildfire, reported New York Post. The church is reportedly still standing unscathed even when fire ripped through Maui, killing more than 80 people.

A historic church in Lahaina in the Maui County of Hawaii has miraculously escaped the wildfire, reported New York Post. The church is reportedly still standing unscathed even when fire ripped through Maui, killing more than 80 people. The death toll is feared to increase. New York Post reported that Maria Lanakila Catholic Church, which first opened in 1846, was seen in a TikTok video. It was not damaged and was still standing. The videos were being shared on social media. HAWAII Maria Lanakila Catholic Church completely unharmed by fire while everything around it is burnt to the ground. pic.twitter.com/WCsw9b4U9T — Catholic Arena (@CatholicArena) August 11, 2023 × “Basically what we know is the fact that all of Lahaina Town has been consumed by fire. It’s all gone. The church, Maria Lanakila [Our Lady of Victory], is still standing, as is the rectory,” said Terrence Watanabe, pastor of the nearby parish of St. Anthony’s. He was quoted by The Pillar. Deadliest fire in more than a century The death toll at the time of publishing this story was 89. This has made Maui wildfires the deadliest wildfires in the US in more than a century. Watch | Hawaii scarred by deadly Maui wildfires × On Saturday (August 13), search teams with cadaver dogs went through the ruins of Lahaina. The officials took estimate of the damage for days after the blazing fires engulfed the historic town destroying buildings and melting cars. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has estimated that the cost to rebuild Lahaina was estimated at USD 5.5 billion. More than 2200 structures have been damaged and more than 2100 acres have been burned. Governor Josh Green warned on Saturday that death toll due to fire is likely to rise. He was talking in a press conference. Officials vowed to examine the state's emergency notification systems after some residents questioned whether more could have been done to warn people before the fire overtook their homes. Some were forced to jump into the Pacific Ocean to escape. Also Read | Maui wildfires: Hawaii attorney general opens probe as death toll climbs to 80 Reuters reported that sirens placed around the island, intended to warn of impending natural disasters, never sounded. There were widespread power and cellular outages which prevented people from getting alert in any other forms. Anne Lopez, the state's attorney general, said she was launching review of decision-making both before and during the fire. Local officials have described a nightmarish confluence of factors, including communications network failures, powerful wind gusts from an offshore hurricane and a separate wildfire dozens of miles away, that made it nearly impossible to coordinate in real time with the emergency management agencies that would typically issue warnings and evacuation orders. Maui wildfires have now become the worst natural disaster in history. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Hawaii: Historic church unscathed even as wildfires level Maui

<p>Officials have now confirmed that the death toll in the Hawaiian wildfire has reached 67, official making it the deadliest natural disaster in state’s history.</p>

<p>The new fatalities were confirmed by the Maui County government on Friday (Aug 11) afternoon even as the officials have yet to figure it out how the fires started in the first place.</p>

<p>The wildfires are&nbsp;Hawaii's deadliest natural disaster, eclipsing the toll of a tsunami in 1960 that killed 61 people.</p>

<p>The authorities believe that the death toll could increase further as search teams are combing through the charred remains of the Lahaina town on Maui island, after the fire burnt down 1,000 buildings and left thousands homeless.</p>

<p>"As firefighting efforts continue, 12 additional fatalities have been confirmed as of 1 p.m. (2300 GMT) today amid the active Lahaina fire. This brings the death toll to 67 people," Maui County said in a statement.</p>

<p>“The Lahaina fire is not yet contained,” the government added in a statement.</p>

<h2><strong>Lahaina residents return&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>Meanwhile, Lahaina residents were allowed to briefly return home on Friday to take stock of the damage, BBC reported.</p>

<p>Before returning, the officials had warned that they would be greeted by "destruction like they've not ever seen in their lives".</p>

<p>The state has also imposed daily curfews from 10 pm to 6 am (local time), while some of the worst-affected regions of the town remain restricted to search and rescue personnel.</p>

<p>According to local reports, much of Maui, and Lahaina, is still without power and water. Search crews are still in the area looking for wildfire victims.</p>

<p>Governor Josh Green warned Hawaiians what they found in Lahaina would be hard to see.</p>

<p><strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/watch-social-media-awash-with-videos-of-deadly-maui-island-fire-in-hawaii-624529">Watch: Social media awash with videos of deadly Maui island fire in Hawaii</a></strong></p>

<p>"Lahaina is a devastated zone. They will see destruction like they've not ever seen in their lives," said the governor, who visited the town on Thursday. "Be very safe, be very careful."</p>

<p>He said that the search operations are unable to access Lahaina as the flames that died down for a brief period of time suddenly reignited, and firefighters had shifted their focus to other areas on the island.</p>

<h2><strong>Questions raised&nbsp;on&nbsp;warning system</strong></h2>

<p>Meanwhile, questions are being raised whether the residents received any warning before the fire engulfed their homes.</p>

<p>Responding to concerns, Green clarified that "the telecommunications were destroyed very rapidly" at that point, indicating that the they were unable to alert the people.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/maui-wildfires-largest-banyan-tree-200-year-old-church-among-landmarks-charred-624490">Maui wildfires: Largest banyan tree, 200-year-old church among landmarks charred</a></p>

<p>"That communication was cut off," the governor said.</p>

<p>At a press conference on Thursday, Maui County Fire Chief Bradford Ventura said that the fire's speed made it "nearly impossible" for frontline responders to communicate with the emergency management officials, who would typically provide real-time evacuation orders. He also noted that cellular service was knocked out.</p>

<p>"They were basically self-evacuating with fairly little notice," he said, referring to residents of the neighbourhood where the fire initially struck.</p>

<p>Though it is still unclear how the wildfires began, but once lit, hurricane winds and dry weather helped fuel the flames.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em><br />
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Officials have now confirmed that the death toll in the Hawaiian wildfire has reached 67, official making it the deadliest natural disaster in state’s history. The new fatalities were confirmed by the Maui County government on Friday (Aug 11) afternoon even as the officials have yet to figure it out how the fires started in the first place.

Officials have now confirmed that the death toll in the Hawaiian wildfire has reached 67, official making it the deadliest natural disaster in state’s history. The new fatalities were confirmed by the Maui County government on Friday (Aug 11) afternoon even as the officials have yet to figure it out how the fires started in the first place. The wildfires are Hawaii's deadliest natural disaster, eclipsing the toll of a tsunami in 1960 that killed 61 people. The authorities believe that the death toll could increase further as search teams are combing through the charred remains of the Lahaina town on Maui island, after the fire burnt down 1,000 buildings and left thousands homeless. "As firefighting efforts continue, 12 additional fatalities have been confirmed as of 1 p.m. (2300 GMT) today amid the active Lahaina fire. This brings the death toll to 67 people," Maui County said in a statement. “The Lahaina fire is not yet contained,” the government added in a statement. Lahaina residents return Meanwhile, Lahaina residents were allowed to briefly return home on Friday to take stock of the damage, BBC reported. Before returning, the officials had warned that they would be greeted by "destruction like they've not ever seen in their lives". The state has also imposed daily curfews from 10 pm to 6 am (local time), while some of the worst-affected regions of the town remain restricted to search and rescue personnel. According to local reports, much of Maui, and Lahaina, is still without power and water. Search crews are still in the area looking for wildfire victims. Governor Josh Green warned Hawaiians what they found in Lahaina would be hard to see. Watch: Social media awash with videos of deadly Maui island fire in Hawaii "Lahaina is a devastated zone. They will see destruction like they've not ever seen in their lives," said the governor, who visited the town on Thursday. "Be very safe, be very careful." He said that the search operations are unable to access Lahaina as the flames that died down for a brief period of time suddenly reignited, and firefighters had shifted their focus to other areas on the island. Questions raised on warning system Meanwhile, questions are being raised whether the residents received any warning before the fire engulfed their homes. Responding to concerns, Green clarified that "the telecommunications were destroyed very rapidly" at that point, indicating that the they were unable to alert the people. Also read | Maui wildfires: Largest banyan tree, 200-year-old church among landmarks charred "That communication was cut off," the governor said. At a press conference on Thursday, Maui County Fire Chief Bradford Ventura said that the fire's speed made it "nearly impossible" for frontline responders to communicate with the emergency management officials, who would typically provide real-time evacuation orders. He also noted that cellular service was knocked out. "They were basically self-evacuating with fairly little notice," he said, referring to residents of the neighbourhood where the fire initially struck. Though it is still unclear how the wildfires began, but once lit, hurricane winds and dry weather helped fuel the flames. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Maui wildfire death toll reaches 67, making it Hawaii’s deadliest natural disaster

A freakish wildfire has leveled a Hawaiian town, leaving at least 67 people dead and destroying more than 270 buildings. Meanwhile, on the other side of the planet, wildfires are blazing through the Mediterranean island of Cyprus, while Portugal and Greece are on high alert for wildfires due to the intense heatwave settling over Spain. July 2023 has officially been designated the hottest month in recorded human history, and thousands of temperature records have been obliterated worldwide. WION's Eric Njoka speaks to Jon Jelsema, a senior forecaster & hurricane specialist from Honolulu and Kathleen Hogarty, director of advancement, hospice Maui, about the situation in Hawaii and the rise in spate of wildfires.

Hawaii scarred by deadly Maui wildfires

<p>At least 36 people died after the catastrophic wildfires ravaged the resort city of Lahaina on Hawaii's Maui island, in the United States. Thousands of people have been impacted, with the majority being displaced.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Amid dire state, United States President Joe Biden on Thursday (August 10) declared the Hawaii wildfires a "major disaster". The president unblocked federal funds for the island of Maui.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A White House statement said: "Today, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. declared that a major disaster exists in the State of Hawaii and ordered federal aid to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by wildfires."&nbsp;</p>

<p>The White House said that the president "expressed his deep condolences for the lives lost and vast destruction of land and property". &nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-at-least-36-killed-in-wildfires-on-hawaiis-maui-island-624146">At least 36 killed in devastating wildfires on Hawaiian island</a>&nbsp;</strong></p>

<h2><strong>How has the situation gotten so worse?&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>Reports have mentioned that the brushfires on Maui's west coast broke out Tuesday (August 8) and rapidly engulfed the seaside town of Lahaina, a popular tourist attraction.&nbsp;The fire has been fueled by high winds from Hurricane Dora passing to the south — across the Pacific Ocean hundreds of miles south of the Hawaiian islands.</p>

<p>The National Weather Service said that the powerful winds were generated by the hurricane, which&nbsp;has been classified as Category 4 by the Central Pacific Hurricane Center. Heavy wind gusts above 60 miles per hour tore through Maui.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In a post shared on X, previously known as Twitter, The National Weather Service said on Sunday that "while Hurricane Dora passes well south with no direct impacts here, the strong pressure gradient between it &amp; the high pressure to the north creates a threat of damaging winds &amp; fire weather (due to ongoing dry conditions) from early Mon to Wed."&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">While well to the south of the Hawaiian Islands, Hurricane Dora is creating strong winds across the Islands which are creating dangerous fire conditions. <a href="https://t.co/12ut6VYhbx">https://t.co/12ut6VYhbx</a></p>
— National Weather Service (@NWS) <a href="https://twitter.com/NWS/status/1689260853063716864?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 9, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<h2><strong>Rescue operation underway&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>The deadly fire forced some residents to jump&nbsp;into the ocean. US-based media outlets have mentioned that the US Coast Guard said crews had rescued over a dozen people who jumped into the Lahaina harbour in an effort to escape the flames and smoke.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Hawaii Emergency Management Agency said in a statement that the fires have put homes, businesses and utilities at risk, as well as more than 35,000 people on the island of Maui. The fires have burned more than 2,000 acres of land.&nbsp;</p>

<p>On Wednesday, officials said that more than 270 buildings have been damaged or destroyed in the seriously affected Lahaina. In a statement, the Maui county government said: "As the firefighting efforts continue, 36 total fatalities have been discovered today amid the active Lahaina fire." &nbsp;</p>

<p>"High, gusty winds and dry conditions put much of Hawai'i under a Red Flag Warning that ended late Wednesday, and more fires were burning on the Big Island and Maui," according to the state emergency agency.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Much of Lahaina on Maui has been destroyed and hundreds of local families have been displaced," said Governor Josh Green of the 12,000-resident historic town.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/at-least-17-dead-as-boat-carrying-rohingyas-sinks-in-bay-of-bengal-624319">At least 17 dead as boat carrying Rohingyas sinks in Bay of Bengal</a>&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>According to a statement on the County of Maui's official Facebook page, visitors to Maui were asked by county officials to leave the island "as soon as possible". Several buses have been organised to shuttle travellers from a hotel to Kahului Aiport in trips that started Wednesday afternoon.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The county said: "Due to limited resources in this time of crisis, visitors with vehicles or any means of transportation are being asked to leave Lahaina and Maui as soon as possible."&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;What is solar sail? How can it revolutionise space travel?&nbsp;</strong></p>

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<h2><strong>What's the reason behind the Maui fire?</strong>&nbsp;</h2>

<p>US media reports mentioned that the exact cause of the blaze is still unknown, but as quoted by the Scientific American, Robert Bohlin, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service's (NWS's) office in Honolulu, said that the devastating Maui fires are the product of a confluence of weather conditions — strong winds, dry vegetation and low humidity. The stage was set by drought conditions across various parts of the state's islands, especially Maui.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As quoted Bohlin said, "This is the time of year when we start to dry out." As per the US Drought Monitor, the typical dryness has been exacerbated by weaker-than-normal trade winds that have kept the rain away. it further said that drought dries out grasses and other vegetation, making them more likely to ignite in a wildfire.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Several <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/wildfires?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#wildfires</a> are burning across parts of Hawaii this week, fueled in part by strong winds from Hurricane Dora passing to the south. <a href="https://twitter.com/NOAA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NOAA</a>'s GOESWest was tracking the hotspots and smoke from the fires as they burned across parts of Maui and the Big Island yesterday evening.… <a href="https://t.co/WzApS2ddTi">pic.twitter.com/WzApS2ddTi</a></p>
— NOAA Satellites (@NOAASatellites) <a href="https://twitter.com/NOAASatellites/status/1689308183301627904?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 9, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<h2><strong>How do wildfires usually start?</strong>&nbsp;</h2>

<p>The National Park Service said in a report that almost 85 per cent of wildfires in the United States are caused by humans. The report mentioned that fires that are sparked this way can result accidentally from leaving campfires unattended, burning debris, using various kinds of equipment and discarding cigarettes improperly. The agency said that intentional acts of arson are another source of human-caused wildfires.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Besides man-made things, there are some natural reasons as well such as lightning and volcanic activities. As per reports, the officials note that lightning strikes are a much more common catalyst.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;</em></p>

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At least 36 people died after the catastrophic wildfires ravaged the resort city of Lahaina on Hawaii's Maui island, in the United States. Thousands of people have been impacted, with the majority being displaced.

At least 36 people died after the catastrophic wildfires ravaged the resort city of Lahaina on Hawaii's Maui island, in the United States. Thousands of people have been impacted, with the majority being displaced. Amid dire state, United States President Joe Biden on Thursday (August 10) declared the Hawaii wildfires a "major disaster". The president unblocked federal funds for the island of Maui. A White House statement said: "Today, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. declared that a major disaster exists in the State of Hawaii and ordered federal aid to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by wildfires." The White House said that the president "expressed his deep condolences for the lives lost and vast destruction of land and property". Also read: At least 36 killed in devastating wildfires on Hawaiian island How has the situation gotten so worse? Reports have mentioned that the brushfires on Maui's west coast broke out Tuesday (August 8) and rapidly engulfed the seaside town of Lahaina, a popular tourist attraction. The fire has been fueled by high winds from Hurricane Dora passing to the south — across the Pacific Ocean hundreds of miles south of the Hawaiian islands. The National Weather Service said that the powerful winds were generated by the hurricane, which has been classified as Category 4 by the Central Pacific Hurricane Center. Heavy wind gusts above 60 miles per hour tore through Maui. In a post shared on X, previously known as Twitter, The National Weather Service said on Sunday that "while Hurricane Dora passes well south with no direct impacts here, the strong pressure gradient between it & the high pressure to the north creates a threat of damaging winds & fire weather (due to ongoing dry conditions) from early Mon to Wed." While well to the south of the Hawaiian Islands, Hurricane Dora is creating strong winds across the Islands which are creating dangerous fire conditions. https://t.co/12ut6VYhbx — National Weather Service (@NWS) August 9, 2023 × Rescue operation underway The deadly fire forced some residents to jump into the ocean. US-based media outlets have mentioned that the US Coast Guard said crews had rescued over a dozen people who jumped into the Lahaina harbour in an effort to escape the flames and smoke. The Hawaii Emergency Management Agency said in a statement that the fires have put homes, businesses and utilities at risk, as well as more than 35,000 people on the island of Maui. The fires have burned more than 2,000 acres of land. On Wednesday, officials said that more than 270 buildings have been damaged or destroyed in the seriously affected Lahaina. In a statement, the Maui county government said: "As the firefighting efforts continue, 36 total fatalities have been discovered today amid the active Lahaina fire." "High, gusty winds and dry conditions put much of Hawai'i under a Red Flag Warning that ended late Wednesday, and more fires were burning on the Big Island and Maui," according to the state emergency agency. "Much of Lahaina on Maui has been destroyed and hundreds of local families have been displaced," said Governor Josh Green of the 12,000-resident historic town. Also read: At least 17 dead as boat carrying Rohingyas sinks in Bay of Bengal According to a statement on the County of Maui's official Facebook page, visitors to Maui were asked by county officials to leave the island "as soon as possible". Several buses have been organised to shuttle travellers from a hotel to Kahului Aiport in trips that started Wednesday afternoon. The county said: "Due to limited resources in this time of crisis, visitors with vehicles or any means of transportation are being asked to leave Lahaina and Maui as soon as possible." Watch: What is solar sail? How can it revolutionise space travel? × What's the reason behind the Maui fire? US media reports mentioned that the exact cause of the blaze is still unknown, but as quoted by the Scientific American, Robert Bohlin, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service's (NWS's) office in Honolulu, said that the devastating Maui fires are the product of a confluence of weather conditions — strong winds, dry vegetation and low humidity. The stage was set by drought conditions across various parts of the state's islands, especially Maui. As quoted Bohlin said, "This is the time of year when we start to dry out." As per the US Drought Monitor, the typical dryness has been exacerbated by weaker-than-normal trade winds that have kept the rain away. it further said that drought dries out grasses and other vegetation, making them more likely to ignite in a wildfire. Several #wildfires are burning across parts of Hawaii this week, fueled in part by strong winds from Hurricane Dora passing to the south. @NOAA's GOESWest was tracking the hotspots and smoke from the fires as they burned across parts of Maui and the Big Island yesterday evening.… pic.twitter.com/WzApS2ddTi — NOAA Satellites (@NOAASatellites) August 9, 2023 × How do wildfires usually start? The National Park Service said in a report that almost 85 per cent of wildfires in the United States are caused by humans. The report mentioned that fires that are sparked this way can result accidentally from leaving campfires unattended, burning debris, using various kinds of equipment and discarding cigarettes improperly. The agency said that intentional acts of arson are another source of human-caused wildfires. Besides man-made things, there are some natural reasons as well such as lightning and volcanic activities. As per reports, the officials note that lightning strikes are a much more common catalyst. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Explained | What's behind Maui wildfires? How has the situation gotten so worse?

Aerial footage showed a harbour, houses and other buildings badly charred in the resort city of Lahaina on Wednesday (August 9), after wildfires swept through Hawaii's Maui island and left at least six dead. Footage shot from a helicopter and shared with Reuters showed large areas in Lahaina blackened and devastated, with pillars of smoke rising from block after block of Lahaina, the largest tourist destination on Maui and home to multiple large hotels.

Hawai wildfires: More than 14,000 people relocated from Maui, death toll rises to 53

<p>As firefighters fight the devastating flames that have nearly engulfed the Hawaiian island of Maui completely, scary videos of wildfires ravaging residential areas are now eliciting reactions online. The videos are being posted by local residents as well as people from other countries.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Maui is on fire and 6 deaths are confirmed.<br />
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Heartbreaking. <a href="https://t.co/bQ8bOvJ4tk">pic.twitter.com/bQ8bOvJ4tk</a></p>
— Sophia Kianni (@SophiaKianni) <a href="https://twitter.com/SophiaKianni/status/1689866929513828352?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 11, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Video of flying over the Hawaiian island of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Maui?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Maui</a>, where the fire burned the western part of the island. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MauiFires?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MauiFires</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MauiWildfires?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MauiWildfires</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Hawaii?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Hawaii</a> <a href="https://t.co/1c15yHvdfX">pic.twitter.com/1c15yHvdfX</a></p>
— X News Monitor (@xNewsMonitor) <a href="https://twitter.com/xNewsMonitor/status/1689875685878239232?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 11, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">On August 7, a forest <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/fire?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#fire</a> broke out on the island of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Maui?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Maui</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Hawaii?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Hawaii</a>, USA. Strong winds of up to 97 km/h, caused by <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HurricaneDora?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HurricaneDora</a>, passing 800 km from Hawaii, contributed to the rapid spread of the fire. A state of emergency has been declared on the island.<br />
▶️Hundreds of homes… <a href="https://t.co/lbtosPCQre">pic.twitter.com/lbtosPCQre</a></p>
— Creative Society Michigan (@MICreativeScty) <a href="https://twitter.com/MICreativeScty/status/1689850036677492736?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 11, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p><br />
Bushfires on the West coast of Maui island were fuelled by high winds from a nearby hurricane. The fire spread rapidly and engulfed the seaside town of Lahaina.</p>

<p>The wildfire spread so&nbsp;rapidly that many were caught off-guard. Some people were trapped in the streets, others jumped into the ocean to escape the advancing flames.</p>

<p>"It really looks like somebody came along and just bombed the whole town. It's completely devastated," said Canadian Brandon Wilson, who had travelled to Hawaii with his wife to celebrate their 25th anniversary, but was at the airport trying to get a flight out. He was quoted by AFP.</p>

<p>"It was really hard to see," he said, teary-eyed. "You feel so bad for people. They lost their homes, their lives, their livelihoods."</p>

<p>The Hawaii fire has come in the wake of other extreme weather events and wildfires in North America in the past few months. Record-breaking wildfires are still burning across Canada, a nation usually associated with its harsh winters.</p>

<p>Temperatures have soared in Europe and parts of Asia. These regions have also witnessed widespread wildfires.</p>

<p>"What we've seen today has been catastrophic... likely the largest natural disaster in Hawaii state history," Governor Josh Green said as quoted by AFP</p>

<p>"In 1960 we had 61 fatalities when a large wave came through Big Island," he said earlier in the day, referring to a tragedy that struck a year after Hawaii became the 50th US state.</p>

<p>"This time, it's very likely that our death totals will significantly exceed that."</p>

<h2><strong>The fatalities</strong></h2>

<p>As per information from Maui County officials, by 9 pm Thursday (0700 GMT Friday), 55 people had been killed and it was feared that the number would increase.</p>

<p>The devastating fire has forced thousands of people to evacuate. Around 1,400 people were waiting at the main airport in Kahului overnight&nbsp;trying to get out.</p>

<p>Maui County has asked visitors to leave "as soon as possible," and organised buses to move evacuees from shelters to the airport.</p>

<p>The island attracts about a third of all the visitors who come to Hawaii to spend their holidays with their families and loved ones.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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As firefighters fight the devastating flames that have nearly engulfed the Hawaiian island of Maui completely, scary videos of wildfires ravaging residential areas are now eliciting reactions online.

As firefighters fight the devastating flames that have nearly engulfed the Hawaiian island of Maui completely, scary videos of wildfires ravaging residential areas are now eliciting reactions online. The videos are being posted by local residents as well as people from other countries. Maui is on fire and 6 deaths are confirmed. Heartbreaking. pic.twitter.com/bQ8bOvJ4tk — Sophia Kianni (@SophiaKianni) August 11, 2023 × Video of flying over the Hawaiian island of #Maui, where the fire burned the western part of the island. #MauiFires #MauiWildfires #Hawaii pic.twitter.com/1c15yHvdfX — X News Monitor (@xNewsMonitor) August 11, 2023 × On August 7, a forest #fire broke out on the island of #Maui, #Hawaii, USA. Strong winds of up to 97 km/h, caused by #HurricaneDora, passing 800 km from Hawaii, contributed to the rapid spread of the fire. A state of emergency has been declared on the island. ▶️Hundreds of homes… pic.twitter.com/lbtosPCQre — Creative Society Michigan (@MICreativeScty) August 11, 2023 × Bushfires on the West coast of Maui island were fuelled by high winds from a nearby hurricane. The fire spread rapidly and engulfed the seaside town of Lahaina. The wildfire spread so rapidly that many were caught off-guard. Some people were trapped in the streets, others jumped into the ocean to escape the advancing flames. "It really looks like somebody came along and just bombed the whole town. It's completely devastated," said Canadian Brandon Wilson, who had travelled to Hawaii with his wife to celebrate their 25th anniversary, but was at the airport trying to get a flight out. He was quoted by AFP. "It was really hard to see," he said, teary-eyed. "You feel so bad for people. They lost their homes, their lives, their livelihoods." The Hawaii fire has come in the wake of other extreme weather events and wildfires in North America in the past few months. Record-breaking wildfires are still burning across Canada, a nation usually associated with its harsh winters. Temperatures have soared in Europe and parts of Asia. These regions have also witnessed widespread wildfires. "What we've seen today has been catastrophic... likely the largest natural disaster in Hawaii state history," Governor Josh Green said as quoted by AFP "In 1960 we had 61 fatalities when a large wave came through Big Island," he said earlier in the day, referring to a tragedy that struck a year after Hawaii became the 50th US state. "This time, it's very likely that our death totals will significantly exceed that." The fatalities As per information from Maui County officials, by 9 pm Thursday (0700 GMT Friday), 55 people had been killed and it was feared that the number would increase. The devastating fire has forced thousands of people to evacuate. Around 1,400 people were waiting at the main airport in Kahului overnight trying to get out. Maui County has asked visitors to leave "as soon as possible," and organised buses to move evacuees from shelters to the airport. The island attracts about a third of all the visitors who come to Hawaii to spend their holidays with their families and loved ones. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Watch: Social media awash with videos of deadly Maui island fire in Hawaii

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<p>At least 36 people have lost their lives in the wildfires that tore through the Hawaiian island of Maui, after starting on Tuesday (August 8), informed county officials. The wind-fuelled wildfires have forced the authorities to evacuate over 11,000 from the area.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The western community town of Lahaina is possibly the worst-affected area as the authorities struggle to contain the fire. Officials said 271 structures had been damaged or destroyed while dozens remained missing. According to Acting Gov. Sylvia Luke, "The road to recovery will be long."&nbsp;</p>

<p>“As the firefighting efforts continue, 36 total fatalities have been discovered today amid the active Lahaina fire. No other details are available at this time,” the Wednesday night release said.</p>

<p>Such has been the destruction trail that residents are embarking upon harrowing escapes using boats or cars. Some are even diving into the Pacific Ocean as the fast-moving wildfire engulfs their homes.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/in-pics-deadly-wildfires-wreak-havoc-on-hawaiis-maui-island-624130" target="_blank"><strong>In pics: Deadly wildfires wreak havoc on Hawaii's Maui island&nbsp;</strong></a></p>

<h2><strong>Hurricane Dora exacerbates wildfires&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>The fire in the region has been fanned by winds from Hurricane Dora passing hundreds of miles to the south.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Major General Kenneth Hara, who is leading the military response to douse the fire, said firefighters have used more than 150,000 gallons of water so far. Helicopters have been deployed but they are facing difficulties as winds with speeds up to 85 mph make their work challenging.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Essential services like electricity and cell tower were down as the fires continued to rage, fanned by strong winds from a nearby hurricane in the Pacific Ocean. Over 12,000 people across Hawaii are currently without power, according to PowerOutage.Us.</p>

<p>US President Joe Biden ordered all federal assets in Hawaii&nbsp;to be mobilised to fight the extreme conditions.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I have ordered all available Federal assets on the Islands to help with response," Biden said in a statement.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/wildfires-in-2023-the-role-of-climate-change-wion-climate-tracker-621335"><strong>Watch |&nbsp;Wildfires in 2023 &amp; the role of climate change | WION Climate Tracker</strong></a></p>

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<p>Meanwhile, former president Barack Obama took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to show solidarity with the victims of the wildfire.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“Michelle and I are thinking of everyone who has lost a loved one, or whose life has been turned upside down,” Obama wrote on X.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to experts, although the exact cause of the wildfire is not known yet, extreme heat caused by global warming could be one of the potential reasons.</p>

<p>Scientists had&nbsp;declared July as the hottest month ever recorded, with continents of Asia, Europe and North America - all battling the ferocious heat. According to experts, human-induced climate change has greatly exacerbated the global warming effect, leading to sky-high temperatures. Consequently, wildfires such as the one in Maui have become a common occurrence across the planet.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em><br />
<br />
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<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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At least 36 people have lost their lives in the wildfires that tore through the Hawaiian island of Maui, after starting on Tuesday (August 8), informed county officials.

At least 36 people have lost their lives in the wildfires that tore through the Hawaiian island of Maui, after starting on Tuesday (August 8), informed county officials. The wind-fuelled wildfires have forced the authorities to evacuate over 11,000 from the area. The western community town of Lahaina is possibly the worst-affected area as the authorities struggle to contain the fire. Officials said 271 structures had been damaged or destroyed while dozens remained missing. According to Acting Gov. Sylvia Luke, "The road to recovery will be long." “As the firefighting efforts continue, 36 total fatalities have been discovered today amid the active Lahaina fire. No other details are available at this time,” the Wednesday night release said. Such has been the destruction trail that residents are embarking upon harrowing escapes using boats or cars. Some are even diving into the Pacific Ocean as the fast-moving wildfire engulfs their homes. In pics: Deadly wildfires wreak havoc on Hawaii's Maui island Hurricane Dora exacerbates wildfires The fire in the region has been fanned by winds from Hurricane Dora passing hundreds of miles to the south. Major General Kenneth Hara, who is leading the military response to douse the fire, said firefighters have used more than 150,000 gallons of water so far. Helicopters have been deployed but they are facing difficulties as winds with speeds up to 85 mph make their work challenging. Essential services like electricity and cell tower were down as the fires continued to rage, fanned by strong winds from a nearby hurricane in the Pacific Ocean. Over 12,000 people across Hawaii are currently without power, according to PowerOutage.Us. US President Joe Biden ordered all federal assets in Hawaii to be mobilised to fight the extreme conditions. "I have ordered all available Federal assets on the Islands to help with response," Biden said in a statement. Watch | Wildfires in 2023 & the role of climate change | WION Climate Tracker × Meanwhile, former president Barack Obama took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to show solidarity with the victims of the wildfire. “Michelle and I are thinking of everyone who has lost a loved one, or whose life has been turned upside down,” Obama wrote on X. According to experts, although the exact cause of the wildfire is not known yet, extreme heat caused by global warming could be one of the potential reasons. Scientists had declared July as the hottest month ever recorded, with continents of Asia, Europe and North America - all battling the ferocious heat. According to experts, human-induced climate change has greatly exacerbated the global warming effect, leading to sky-high temperatures. Consequently, wildfires such as the one in Maui have become a common occurrence across the planet. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Maui: At least 36 killed in devastating wildfires on Hawaiian island

<p>A wildfire is burning on the Hawaiian island of Maui, which has been further fuelled by powerful winds from Hurricane Dora.&nbsp;</p>

<p>US-based media outlets reported on Wednesday (August 9) that people on the island had to jump into the ocean on Tuesday to escape flames and smoke.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Coast Guard told CBS News that a dozen people have been rescued in the town of Lahaina. Coast Guard Lt. Elaine Simon told the outlet that the wind was blowing thick black smoke towards the water.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-more-than-50-injured-in-factory-explosion-near-moscow-623904">More than 50 injured in factory explosion near Moscow</a>&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>A helicopter and boat were also deployed by the coast guard to rescue several people from the water after they jumped into the ocean in an attempt&nbsp;to flee from the flames and smoke.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In a telephonic interview with the Associated Press on Wednesday, County of Maui spokesperson Mahina Martin said that the wildfire was widespread in Lahaina, including Front Street — an area of the historic town and popular tourist attraction.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">This is Front Street, Lahaina on Maui, a popular tourist destination, currently suffering from effects of the fires. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Hawaii?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Hawaii</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/maui?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#maui</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MauiFires?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MauiFires</a><br />
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<a href="https://t.co/NqkGiywrgI">pic.twitter.com/NqkGiywrgI</a></p>
— Johnny (@tallyman2023) <a href="https://twitter.com/tallyman2023/status/1689272013427548160?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 9, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Wildfire has engulfed businesses on Front Street in downtown Lahaina in West Maui, home to 12,000 people.<br />
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The Coast Guard is responding to people who were forced to go into the ocean due to the flames.<br />
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Video credit to Alan Dickar, a local resident of Lahaina. <a href="https://t.co/8uiyHQP55B">pic.twitter.com/8uiyHQP55B</a></p>
— Colin McCarthy (@US_Stormwatch) <a href="https://twitter.com/US_Stormwatch/status/1689193105487257600?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 9, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">This is what it looked like earlier on Maui. If you've been to my hometown of Lahaina...I fear it is no longer. I dread what it will look like in the morning. An apocalyptic scene is unfolding due to the fires raging across my island. Please pray for us. <a href="https://t.co/88V2kjjpyV">pic.twitter.com/88V2kjjpyV</a></p>
— HawaiiDelilah™ 🟦 (@HawaiiDelilah) <a href="https://twitter.com/HawaiiDelilah/status/1689241362011660288?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 9, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>According to a report by CBS Honolulu affiliate KGMB-TV, the "videos on social media showed a wall of flames descending on Front Street in Lahaina and destroying a number of businesses".&nbsp;</p>

<p>Hawaiian Electric Company said that thousands of its customers were currently without power Wednesday morning. Poweroutage.us stated that as of 1:20am (7:20 am ET), nearly 20% of the county (14,114 customers) was without power.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/france-nine-dead-two-missing-after-holiday-lodging-fire-623863">France: At least nine dead in fire at holiday home for disabled people</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>Hawaii's Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke told CNN that the state is facing severe challenges to fight the flames. Luke said, "When we deal with hurricanes and disasters following hurricanes, we're usually dealing with heavy rain, we're dealing with flooding."&nbsp;</p>

<p>Luke added, "The fact that we have wildfires in multiple areas as a result of indirectly from a hurricane is unprecedented; it's something that Hawaii residents and the state have not experienced."&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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A wildfire is burning on the Hawaiian island of Maui, which has been further fuelled by powerful winds from Hurricane Dora. US-based media outlets reported on Wednesday (August 9) that people on the island had to jump into the ocean on Tuesday to escape flames and smoke.

A wildfire is burning on the Hawaiian island of Maui, which has been further fuelled by powerful winds from Hurricane Dora. US-based media outlets reported on Wednesday (August 9) that people on the island had to jump into the ocean on Tuesday to escape flames and smoke. The Coast Guard told CBS News that a dozen people have been rescued in the town of Lahaina. Coast Guard Lt. Elaine Simon told the outlet that the wind was blowing thick black smoke towards the water. Also read: More than 50 injured in factory explosion near Moscow A helicopter and boat were also deployed by the coast guard to rescue several people from the water after they jumped into the ocean in an attempt to flee from the flames and smoke. In a telephonic interview with the Associated Press on Wednesday, County of Maui spokesperson Mahina Martin said that the wildfire was widespread in Lahaina, including Front Street — an area of the historic town and popular tourist attraction. This is Front Street, Lahaina on Maui, a popular tourist destination, currently suffering from effects of the fires. #Hawaii #maui #MauiFires pic.twitter.com/NqkGiywrgI — Johnny (@tallyman2023) August 9, 2023 × Wildfire has engulfed businesses on Front Street in downtown Lahaina in West Maui, home to 12,000 people. The Coast Guard is responding to people who were forced to go into the ocean due to the flames. Video credit to Alan Dickar, a local resident of Lahaina. pic.twitter.com/8uiyHQP55B — Colin McCarthy (@US_Stormwatch) August 9, 2023 × This is what it looked like earlier on Maui. If you've been to my hometown of Lahaina...I fear it is no longer. I dread what it will look like in the morning. An apocalyptic scene is unfolding due to the fires raging across my island. Please pray for us. pic.twitter.com/88V2kjjpyV — HawaiiDelilah™ 🟦 (@HawaiiDelilah) August 9, 2023 × According to a report by CBS Honolulu affiliate KGMB-TV, the "videos on social media showed a wall of flames descending on Front Street in Lahaina and destroying a number of businesses". Hawaiian Electric Company said that thousands of its customers were currently without power Wednesday morning. Poweroutage.us stated that as of 1:20am (7:20 am ET), nearly 20% of the county (14,114 customers) was without power. Also read: France: At least nine dead in fire at holiday home for disabled people Hawaii's Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke told CNN that the state is facing severe challenges to fight the flames. Luke said, "When we deal with hurricanes and disasters following hurricanes, we're usually dealing with heavy rain, we're dealing with flooding." Luke added, "The fact that we have wildfires in multiple areas as a result of indirectly from a hurricane is unprecedented; it's something that Hawaii residents and the state have not experienced." (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Maui wildfire: People jump into ocean to escape flames and smoke - VIDEO

Heavy rains due to Typhoon Khanun have lashed the mountainous parts of the country. The intense downpour has led to floods and landslides that have blocked roads and stranded hundreds of people. Reports suggest that two people were missing and more than 460 people were stuck due to the rains.

South Korea on high alert as Typhoon Khanun approaches | Portugal battle wildfires

In pics | Portugal, Spain continue to battle wildfires amid heatwave alerts

<p>More than 130 people have been evacuated after a wildfire at Portbou, Spain’s Mediterranean coast near the French border continued to spread, on Saturday (August 5), said a report by AFP citing firefighters. This comes after the locals were evacuated overnight from several villages as a precaution after the fire spread to the south of Portbou.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>About the situation in Portbou</strong></h2>

<p>As of Saturday, the blaze ravaged some 435 hectares of land in the area with an estimated 2,500 hectares under threat, reported AFP, while firefighters from Spain’s northeastern region of Catalonia teamed up with their French colleagues to bring the wildfire under control.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The spread of the wildfire was attributed to strong winds which also prevented water-bombing planes from taking off to help with firefighting operations in the tricky hilly terrain.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Senior firefighter Santi Lleonart said in a Catalan government statement on Friday that the blaze was difficult to extinguish due to the mountainous terrain of the region.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, the Catalan fire service, as per AFP said that they expect the airborne operations to resume on Saturday afternoon. Portbou, near the France-Spanish border, is also home to a major railway station used by both countries’ networks.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Meanwhile, Catalan civil protection officials reported that as many as 4,000 people were without electricity. They have also suspended rail traffic between the Spanish towns of Portbou and Figueres, which is some 30 kilometres south.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The main road into Portbou and to the French border was also closed. According to AFP, some 80 Catalan firefighting units were deployed in the region to fight the wildfire while a dozen fire engines were sent from the French side of the border.</p>

<p>The Catalan regional government website, on Saturday, said that the blaze “remains active” and their priority was to prevent it from reaching the nearby tourist resort of Llanca to the south.</p>

<h2><strong>Evacuations and investigation</strong></h2>

<p>The Catalan fire service also said that they evacuated around 135 local people as a precautionary measure while hundreds of others were stuck in their houses or campsites overnight. Notably, Portbou welcomes thousands of tourists around this time of the year.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Catalan forest rangers took to X, formerly known as Twitter and said that they had also launched an investigation into the cause of the fire.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to the data from the European Forest Fire Information System, Spain is experiencing a less destructive summer of wildfires than in 2022, when more than 300,000 hectares were devastated.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;</em><br />
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More than 130 people have been evacuated after a wildfire at Portbou, Spain’s Mediterranean coast near the French border continued to spread, on Saturday (August 5), said a report by AFP citing firefighters.

More than 130 people have been evacuated after a wildfire at Portbou, Spain’s Mediterranean coast near the French border continued to spread, on Saturday (August 5), said a report by AFP citing firefighters. This comes after the locals were evacuated overnight from several villages as a precaution after the fire spread to the south of Portbou. About the situation in Portbou As of Saturday, the blaze ravaged some 435 hectares of land in the area with an estimated 2,500 hectares under threat, reported AFP, while firefighters from Spain’s northeastern region of Catalonia teamed up with their French colleagues to bring the wildfire under control. The spread of the wildfire was attributed to strong winds which also prevented water-bombing planes from taking off to help with firefighting operations in the tricky hilly terrain. Senior firefighter Santi Lleonart said in a Catalan government statement on Friday that the blaze was difficult to extinguish due to the mountainous terrain of the region. However, the Catalan fire service, as per AFP said that they expect the airborne operations to resume on Saturday afternoon. Portbou, near the France-Spanish border, is also home to a major railway station used by both countries’ networks. Meanwhile, Catalan civil protection officials reported that as many as 4,000 people were without electricity. They have also suspended rail traffic between the Spanish towns of Portbou and Figueres, which is some 30 kilometres south. The main road into Portbou and to the French border was also closed. According to AFP, some 80 Catalan firefighting units were deployed in the region to fight the wildfire while a dozen fire engines were sent from the French side of the border. The Catalan regional government website, on Saturday, said that the blaze “remains active” and their priority was to prevent it from reaching the nearby tourist resort of Llanca to the south. Evacuations and investigation The Catalan fire service also said that they evacuated around 135 local people as a precautionary measure while hundreds of others were stuck in their houses or campsites overnight. Notably, Portbou welcomes thousands of tourists around this time of the year. The Catalan forest rangers took to X, formerly known as Twitter and said that they had also launched an investigation into the cause of the fire. According to the data from the European Forest Fire Information System, Spain is experiencing a less destructive summer of wildfires than in 2022, when more than 300,000 hectares were devastated. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

More than 130 people evacuated from Spain-France border as wildfires spread

<p>A third firefighter lost his life while battling one of the massive blazes during the worst wildfire season on record in Canada, said officials on Saturday (July 29). This comes days after two other firefighters died, in separate incidents, while also tackling the record-breaking Canadian wildfires.</p>

<h2><strong>What do we know about the firefighter’s death?</strong></h2>

<p>The announcement was made by the premier of the Canadian province of British Columbia, David Eby, in a statement. “I am devastated to learn that we have lost another wildfire fighter. My heart goes out to the family, friends and colleagues of this frontline hero,” said Eby.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, he did not identify the firefighter. Local officials said that the victim was at the Donnie Creek wildfire, near Fort St John, in the northeast of the province.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/after-weeks-of-ravaging-canada-wildfires-claim-first-firefighter-615775">After ravaging Canada for weeks, wildfires now claim life of young firefighter</a></strong></p>

<p>The update also comes after two other firefighters lost their lives, earlier this month, as well as a fourth person, a helicopter pilot,&nbsp;died on July 19 after his aircraft crashed in Alberta, in western Canada, while taking part in relief operations.</p>

<h2><strong>Evacuation order issued for Osoyoos</strong></h2>

<p>An evacuation order was issued for the Canadian town of Osoyoos and its surrounding district after an out-of-control wildfire crossed the border from the US state of Washington. According to the British Columbia Wildfire Service, the blaze, called Eagle Bluff, is around four kilometres away from the town.&nbsp;</p>

<p>It is also reported to be some 200 hectares in size on the Canadian side of the border and 2,000 hectares on the United States side. According to local media reports, the order was issued on Saturday evening for 732 properties in and around Osoyoos.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The orders also cover an area north of the border to the intersection of Highway 97 and Highway 3, as well as west and north along Highway 3.</p>

<h2>Record-breaking wildfires in Canada</h2>

<p>A third of all the fires currently raging in Canada&nbsp;are in British Columbia amid the country’s worst wildfire season on record. The Canadian province currently has 368 active fires out of the 990 fires which are currently reported to be ravaging Canada. At least 613 of these wildfires are considered out of control.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/british-columbia-seeks-military-help-and-foreign-countries-amid-record-wildfires-616946">Canada: British Columbia seeks help of military, foreign countries to tackle record wildfires</a></strong></p>

<p>So far this year, the Canadian wildfires have burned some 30 million acres, affecting an area larger than the size of Cuba or South Korea. “This wildfire season has been profoundly awful,” said the premier of British Columbia. He also went on to hail the firefighters as heroes making “extraordinary sacrifices...to keep us safe.”</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;</em><br />
&nbsp;</p>

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A third firefighter lost his life while battling one of the massive blazes during the worst wildfire season on record in Canada, said officials on Saturday (July 29).

A third firefighter lost his life while battling one of the massive blazes during the worst wildfire season on record in Canada, said officials on Saturday (July 29). This comes days after two other firefighters died, in separate incidents, while also tackling the record-breaking Canadian wildfires. What do we know about the firefighter’s death? The announcement was made by the premier of the Canadian province of British Columbia, David Eby, in a statement. “I am devastated to learn that we have lost another wildfire fighter. My heart goes out to the family, friends and colleagues of this frontline hero,” said Eby. However, he did not identify the firefighter. Local officials said that the victim was at the Donnie Creek wildfire, near Fort St John, in the northeast of the province. ALSO READ | After ravaging Canada for weeks, wildfires now claim life of young firefighter The update also comes after two other firefighters lost their lives, earlier this month, as well as a fourth person, a helicopter pilot, died on July 19 after his aircraft crashed in Alberta, in western Canada, while taking part in relief operations. Evacuation order issued for Osoyoos An evacuation order was issued for the Canadian town of Osoyoos and its surrounding district after an out-of-control wildfire crossed the border from the US state of Washington. According to the British Columbia Wildfire Service, the blaze, called Eagle Bluff, is around four kilometres away from the town. It is also reported to be some 200 hectares in size on the Canadian side of the border and 2,000 hectares on the United States side. According to local media reports, the order was issued on Saturday evening for 732 properties in and around Osoyoos. The orders also cover an area north of the border to the intersection of Highway 97 and Highway 3, as well as west and north along Highway 3. Record-breaking wildfires in Canada A third of all the fires currently raging in Canada are in British Columbia amid the country’s worst wildfire season on record. The Canadian province currently has 368 active fires out of the 990 fires which are currently reported to be ravaging Canada. At least 613 of these wildfires are considered out of control. ALSO READ | Canada: British Columbia seeks help of military, foreign countries to tackle record wildfires So far this year, the Canadian wildfires have burned some 30 million acres, affecting an area larger than the size of Cuba or South Korea. “This wildfire season has been profoundly awful,” said the premier of British Columbia. He also went on to hail the firefighters as heroes making “extraordinary sacrifices...to keep us safe.” (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Canadian wildfires: Third firefighter dies while tackling blaze; evacuations in Osoyoos

The news of wildfires and heat waves have been coming from all across the world but in particular the Mediterranean Coast has really been hit hard from Italy to Greece well in West Asia the Mediterranean part Syria and Turkey were hit as well. locals have been scrambling to find affordable ways to survive temperatures as high as 40 degrees celsius lining up to fill water containers purchasing ice blocks to help cool down are all efforts that seem to be in vain.

Wildfires scorch Syria and Turkey, huge losses for Tourism, agriculture

Large areas of the Mediterranean are sweltering under an intense summer heatwave. The dry conditions have led to severe wildfires in multiple nations in Europe Asia & North Africa. Firefighters are battling to put out blazes across the region, from Portugal, To Italy, And Algeria. Forests are burning in at least nine countries across the Mediterranean And Turkiye is the latest country to feel the wrath Russian amphibious planes were roped in to tackle fires in the city of Antalya.

Wildfires spreading across Mediterranean nations, Turkiye feels the wrath

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