Lahaina, Banyan Court damage seen in aerial photos

At the very least 36 folks have died, officers say, and lots of of buildings have been destroyed as fires proceed to rage on the island of Maui in Hawaii.

The fires first started Tuesday, and have since grown and spread in destruction, forcing lots of of evacuations and leaving 1000’s with out energy.

The precise reason for the fires is unknown, though some consultants consider human growth on the island is a minimum of partly responsible, together with nonnative grass planted by plantation house owners unfamiliar with the native ecosystem, which is dry and susceptible to fires.

The National Guard has been activated by Hawaii officers to help police in Maui. The areas most impacted embody Lahaina, a residential and vacationer space with a business district in West Maui; Kula, a residential space within the inland, mountainous Upcounty area; and Kihei, a mixture of properties, condos, short-term trip leases and customer amenities in South Maui.