People trying to escape the Maui wildfires were left with only one way out after a mistake by local officials closed several roads, according to an investigation by the BBC.
Access to the main highway in the city of Lahaina was cut off and police directed people to an escape route to the south — a road that skirts the ocean, where traffic was at a standstill during the height of the fire, the broadcaster revealed.
At least 99 people were killed in the August wildfires, which were the deadliest in modern US history.
The two main roads are mostly perpendicular to each other with residential areas in between, while Lahainaluna Road crosses the town and connects it to both roads.
On the afternoon of August 8, those trying to escape the fire via Lahainaluna Road found their routes to the two main escape routes south — Honoapiʻilani Highway and Lahaina Highway — blocked.
Police body camera footage shows traffic at a standstill on Lahainaluna Street, leaving officers also confused.
With two main roads out of Lahaina, police ordered people to evacuate to Front Street, which had become a “parking lot” as the fire spread.REUTERS
“We have to move this car! Why isn’t the car moving?” said an officer on Lahainaluna Road.
Some of those who managed to escape did so by bypassing the highway blockade.
Shortly after the fire broke out, firefighters closed the Lahiana Bypass, making Front Street, which runs along the beach, the only way out.
Police directed people to the road, which had become a “parking lot” and later a disaster zone of burned cars where some victims were trapped, while others had to flee into the ocean.
Front Street is the only way out of Lahaina as the main intersection is blocked by raging wildfires and downed power lines. AFP via Getty Images
A northbound intersection is also blocked.
Police told the BBC that the shutdown was due to downed power lines — but some officers at the time didn’t know that.
“We have to go there, because they don’t know what’s going on [expletive] they do,” said one of them. “They don’t understand,” said another official.
Maui Electric, however, said power was off and lines were down by the time people were evacuated — and the company relayed that information to police throughout the day, even providing the BBC with audio of the company’s communications with police.
“Without clear and definitive confirmation that the downed power lines are de-energized, Maui police officers are taking reasonable precautions to avoid sending evacuees onto potentially live lines,” the department told the BBC.
A person walks down Front Street after the devastating fire.AFP via Getty Images
Hawaiian Electric has taken responsibility for one of its power lines that started a fire earlier in the day, but blamed firefighters for not being able to control the blaze that broke out in the afternoon and destroyed the city.
Kekoa Lansford, who sells coconuts on Front Street and tried to help people escape, felt the officers contributed to the victims by closing several streets. His uncle was killed trying to escape.
“He’s a good guy, who got stuck in a traffic jam, tried to get around it and got caught in the fire. Died,” he told the BBC. “What should have happened is the road should have been open.”
The fire on August 8 killed at least 99 people and was the deadliest in modern US history
Maui Mayor Richard Bissen has admitted the city is unprepared for the disaster.
An extensive emergency siren system was never activated and the county did not have a widely known evacuation plan.
“We all have to take responsibility,” Bissen said. “All of us.”
with Postal wire
Categories: Trending
Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
