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Harrowing photos capture Maui wildfire devastation

By
and
Published Aug. 11, 2023
Updated Sep. 13, 2023, 5:19 p.m. ET
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Destroyed buildings and burned trees surround the area in the aftermath of the fire in Lahaina as residents walk down a street on Wednesday. 

Destroyed buildings and burned trees surround the area in the aftermath of the fire in Lahaina as residents walk down a street on Wednesday.

ZUMAPRESS.com

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The fire at 10:25 p.m. local time on August 8, 2023, as observed by the Operational Land Imager (OLI) on the Landsat 8 satellite.

The fire at 10:25 p.m. local time on August 8, 2023, as observed by the Operational Land Imager (OLI) on the Landsat 8 satellite.

ZUMAPRESS.com

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The hall of historic Waiola Church in Lahaina and nearby Lahaina Hongwanji Mission are engulfed in flames along Wainee Street on Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2023

The hall of historic Waiola Church in Lahaina and nearby Lahaina Hongwanji Mission are engulfed in flames along Wainee Street on Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2023.

AP

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Destroyed homes and buildings on the waterfront burned to the ground in Lahaina in the aftermath of wildfires in western Maui.

Destroyed homes and buildings on the waterfront burned to the ground in Lahaina in the aftermath of wildfires in western Maui.

AFP via Getty Images

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The fires began burning early August 8, scorching thousands of acres and putting homes, businesses and 35,000 lives at risk.

The fires began burning early August 8, scorching thousands of acres and putting homes, businesses and 35,000 lives at risk.

AFP via Getty Images

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A before and after aerial photo shows an overview of the devastation of Banyan court in Lahaina.

A before and after aerial photo shows an overview of the devastation of Banyan court in Lahaina.

Satellite image ©2023 Maxar Tech/AFP via Getty Images

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The destroyed harbor and Front Street in the historic Lahaina Town.

The destroyed harbor and Front Street in the historic Lahaina Town.

AFP via Getty Images

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Shells of cars sit in a parking lot, comepletely destroyed by the wildfires.

Shells of cars sit in a parking lot, comepletely destroyed by the wildfires.

AFP via Getty Images

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A burned boat in the Lahaina Harbor.

A burned boat in the Lahaina Harbor.

AFP via Getty Images

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A US Coast Guard vessel docking in the harbor near a destroyed building in an attempt to find survivors.

A US Coast Guard vessel docking in the harbor near a destroyed building in an attempt to find survivors.

AFP via Getty Images

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A person walking down Front Street past destroyed, completely unrecognizable, buildings burned to the ground.

A person walking down Front Street past destroyed, completely unrecognizable, buildings burned to the ground.

AFP via Getty Images

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A historic banyan tree stands along Lahaina town's historic Front Street in February 2018, five years before the wildfires devastated the town.

A historic banyan tree stands along Lahaina town's historic Front Street in February 2018, five years before the wildfires devastated the town.

AP

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The historic Banyan tree, now burnt and barren, surrounded by burned cars in Lahaina.

The historic Banyan tree, now burnt and barren, surrounded by burned cars in Lahaina.

AFP via Getty Images

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An aerial image taken on August 10, 2023 shows destroyed homes and buildings burned to the ground in Lahaina in the aftermath of wildfires in western Maui, Hawaii. At least 36 people have died after a fast-moving wildfire turned Lahaina to ashes, officials said August 9, 2023 as visitors asked to leave the island of Maui found themselves stranded at the airport. The fires began burning early August 8, scorching thousands of acres and putting homes, businesses and 35,000 lives at risk on Maui, the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency said in a statement. (Photo by Patrick T. Fallon / AFP) (Photo by PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images)

Experts say the wildfires were caused by an unusual pressure gradient as a result of Hurricane Dora, which was made worse by dry conditions.

AFP via Getty Images

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A Hawaii Army National Guard CH47 Chinook performs aerial water bucket drops on wildfires on the Hawaiian island of Maui.

A Hawaii Army National Guard CH47 Chinook performs aerial water bucket drops on wildfires on the Hawaiian island of Maui.

US Department of Defense/AFP via Getty Images

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Passengers try to sleep on the floor of the airport terminal while waiting for delayed and canceled flights off the island as thousands of passengers were stranded at the Kahului Airport (OGG) in the aftermath of wildfires

Passengers try to sleep on the floor of the airport terminal while waiting for delayed and canceled flights off the island as thousands of passengers were stranded at the Kahului Airport in the aftermath of wildfires.

AFP via Getty Images

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Passengers try to rest and sleep after canceled and delayed flights, while others wait to board flights off the island as thousands of passengers were stranded at the airport.

Passengers try to rest and sleep after canceled and delayed flights, while others wait to board flights off the island as thousands of passengers were stranded at the airport.

AFP via Getty Images

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Tourists who were evacuated following wild fire destruction settle for the night as they wait for a flight to leave the island of Maui at the Kahului Airport.

Tourists who were evacuated following wild fire destruction settle for the night as they wait for a flight to leave the island of Maui at the Kahului Airport.

ETIENNE LAURENT/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

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Donated goods including await distribution outside of a shelter at War Memorial Stadium in the aftermath of wildfires.

Donated goods await distribution outside of a shelter at War Memorial Stadium in the aftermath of wildfires.

AFP via Getty Images

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The search of the wildfire wreckage on the Hawaiian island of Maui on Thursday revealed a wasteland of burned out homes and obliterated communities as firefighters battled the stubborn blaze making it the deadliest in the U.S. in recent years.

The Maui wildfires have become the deadliest in the U.S. in recent years.

AP

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 The search of the wildfire wreckage on the Hawaiian island of Maui on Thursday revealed a wasteland of burned out homes and obliterated communities. 

 The search of the wildfire wreckage on the Hawaiian island of Maui on Thursday revealed a wasteland of burned out homes and obliterated communities. 

AP

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The scene at one of Maui's tourist hubs on Thursday looked like a wasteland, with homes and entire blocks reduced to ashes as firefighters as firefighters battled the deadly blaze.

The scene at one of Maui's tourist hubs on Thursday shows entire blocks reduced to ashes as firefighters battled the deadly blaze.

AP

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A sign for NOAA Art Galleries sits burnt on the sidewalk, while barren trees struggle for survival in the background.

A sign for NOAA Art Galleries sits burnt on the sidewalk, while barren trees struggle for survival in the background.

AP

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The wildfire washed over the town indiscriminately, torching everything in its path.

The wildfire washed over the town indiscriminately, torching everything in its path.

AP

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Myrna Ah Hee reacts as she waits in front of an evacuation center at the War Memorial Gymnasium, in Wailuku, Hawaii. The Ah Hees were there because they were looking for her husband's brother. Their own home in Lahaina was spared, but the homes of many of their relatives were destroyed by wildfires.

Myrna Ah Hee reacts as she waits in front of an evacuation center at the War Memorial Gymnasium, in Wailuku, Hawaii. The Ah Hees were there because they were looking for her husband's brother. Their own home in Lahaina was spared, but the homes of many of their relatives were destroyed by wildfires.

AP

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Wildfire wreckage is seen Thursday, Aug. 10, 2023, in Lahaina, Hawaii. The search of the wildfire wreckage on the Hawaiian island of Maui on Thursday revealed a wasteland of burned out homes and obliterated communities as firefighters battled the deadliest blaze in the U.S. in recent years. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

What little remains of the town will have to be rebuilt, or abandoned.

AP

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Buildings of all sizes were razed to the ground by the deadly fire.

Buildings of all sizes were razed to the ground by the deadly wildfires.

AP

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Dozens of cars sit abandoned on the road, their chassis charred and unusable.

Dozens of cars sit abandoned on the road, their chassis charred and unusable.

AP

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A woman evacuates her horse past a Maui County crew working to clear Olinda Road of wind-blown debris in the fire-threatened area of Kula, Hawaii.

A woman evacuates her horse past a Maui County crew working to clear Olinda Road of wind-blown debris in the fire-threatened area of Kula, Hawaii.

AP

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A wildfire burns in Kihei, Hawaii late Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2023.

A wildfire burns in Kihei, Hawaii late Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2023.

AP

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A man, likely displaced by the fires, sits on a chair with burned vehicles and buildings in the background.

A man, likely displaced by the fires, sits on a chair with burned vehicles and buildings in the background.

via REUTERS

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Lahaina residents fleeing flames into the ocean.

Lahaina residents fleeing flames into the ocean.

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Lahaina were forced to take shelter from the fires in any way they could, including fleeing into the ocean.

Lahaina were forced to take shelter from the fires in any way they could.

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