Maui wildfires kill six as 'apocalypse' strikes Hawaiian paradise

An aerial view of a wildfire in Kihei, Maui County, Hawaii, U.S., August 8, 2023 in this screen grab obtained from a social media video. Clint Hansen of Maui Real Estate Radio/TMX via REUTERS

KAHULUI, Hawaii (Reuters) -Wildfires fanned by winds of a distant hurricane killed at least six people and devastated much of Hawaii's Maui island on Wednesday, forcing thousands to evacuate as some people fled into the ocean to escape the smoke and flames.

Multiple neighborhoods were burnt to the ground as the western side of the island, including the tourist resort of Lahaina, was nearly cut off with only one highway open as officials told of widespread devastation that was still too early to quantify.