Satellite imagery from the International Space Station has captured the aftermath of the devastating wildfires that affected the Hawaiian island of Maui. Last weekend, NASA shared an image taken on August 12, showing the community of Lahaina on the coast. The space station was orbiting 259 miles above the Pacific Ocean at the time. Previous satellite imagery from Maxar Technologies provides a before-and-after comparison, revealing the significant destruction caused by the wind-fueled wildfires, which claimed more than 110 lives.
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Once lush and green landscapes have been reduced to charred brown and gray areas.
An image of the island of Maui captured from the International Space Station, showing the scene of the deadly wildfires. (NASA/JSC)
Residents were forced to evacuate, some even seeking refuge in the ocean, and there are still many missing individuals.
As the death toll reached 111 on Wednesday, the head of the Maui Emergency Management Agency defended the decision not to sound sirens during the blaze. Hawaii is equipped with the largest system of outdoor alert sirens worldwide, implemented after a 1946 tsunami claimed the lives of over 150 people on the Big Island.
Satellite images from Maxar Technologies showing an overview of Lahaina on Maui, Hawaii, before and after the wildfire. (Maxar Technologies via AP)
Maui wildfire death toll reaches 110, expected to increase as recovery effort continues
The agency administrator, Herman Andaya, explained that they were concerned people might have fled towards the mountains or inland, where they would have ended up in the fire.
On Tuesday, Maui officials reported that the fires were mostly contained but not fully extinguished.
Maxar Technologies’ satellite images showing an overview of Banyan Court in Lahaina on Maui, Hawaii, before and after the wildfire. (Maxar Technologies via AP)
Governor Josh Green expressed support for the affected families during a press conference on Wednesday. The cause of the wildfires, the deadliest in the U.S. in over a century, is still under investigation. However, an analysis of FEMA records by the Associated Press revealed that Hawaii is facing an increasing risk of disasters.
Maxar Technologies’ satellite images showing an overview of southern Lahaina on Maui, Hawaii, before and after the wildfire. (Maxar Technologies via AP)
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President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden are planning to visit Maui early next week.
According to Governor Green, decisions made on the island can have implications for the entire state, as seen during the pandemic. He stated that travel should be avoided to West Maui but assured that other parts of the island are safe, as are the rest of the state.
FOX News’ Sarah Rumpf-Whitten and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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