Satellite images captured the destruction on Maui after a wildfire scorched Lahaina, a popular vacation destination on the island’s west coast and the historic capital of the Kingdom of Hawaii, on Wednesday.
The satellite imagery provides a bird’s-eye view of the scorched landscapes, which formerly housed lush woods and bustling neighbourhoods. The burnt soil spreads as far as the eye can see, a chilling reminder of the flames’ unrelenting progress.
The photographs illustrate a sharp contrast between regions that have been burned by fire and those that have not, emphasizing the indiscriminate character of these terrible events.
Crisis Seen From Above: Devastation Caused By Wildfires In Lahaina Captured In Satellite Images
Credit: AFP-Getty Images
According to a Maxar Technologies photograph, the historical region of Banyan Court, home to the island’s oldest live banyan tree, which is 150 years old, appears mostly reduced to ash.
Other photographs revealed comparable devastation in and surrounding Lahaina Square, a shopping district, and a neighbourhood on the town’s southern outskirts with 12,700 people.
Officials announced Thursday that the island’s wildfires had killed at least 36 people. “Widespread damage to West Maui town, the harbour, and surrounding areas is being documented,” said the county in a statement.
Credit: Satellite Image ©2023 Maxar Technologies
Tiare Lawrence, a Lahaina resident, told NBC affiliate KHNL in Honolulu that everyone she knows has lost their homes. “I still don’t know where my little brother is,” she said. “I don’t know where my stepdad is.”
Credit: AP
Strong, irregular gusts from a Category 4 cyclone fueled the fires, affecting Hawaii’s Big Island. “This is not going to be a short journey,” said Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke, acting governor until Gov. Josh Green returns from a trip early.
“It will take weeks, if not months, to assess the full extent of the damage.”
Credit: Getty Images
In the aftermath of this disaster, these satellite photographs are more than just a record of devastation; they represent a call to action. They serve as a reminder of the critical importance of investing in fire prevention, disaster preparedness, and sustainable land management practises.
They urge us to band together as communities and as a global civilization to solve the grave climate change issues that exacerbate the conditions that lead to such terrible wildfires.
Let the photographs captured from space serve as a sad reminder that the impact of natural disasters knows no bounds as we reflect on them. The tragedy, whether observed from thousands of miles away or from within the impacted neighbourhoods, strikes at the heart of our shared humanity.
It serves as a reminder that in the face of such suffering, compassion, unity, and a willingness to change are our most effective instruments for healing and prevention.
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Source: vtt.edu.vn