At least 93 people have been killed and more are missing after the devastating wildfires which prompted the evacuation of some 46,000 residents and visitors.
The blazes tore through the historic coastal town of Lahaina, with officials estimating more than 80% of the 2,700 structures in the town were damaged or destroyed.
Among them was Fleetwood’s on Front Street, the fine dining restaurant opened by Mick Fleetwood in 2012, he said.
Hawaii Wildfires | August 2023
In a post on Twitter, he wrote: “Maui and the Lahaina community have been my home for several decades. This is a devastating moment for Maui, and many are suffering unimaginable loss.
“Fleetwood’s on Front Street has been lost and while we are heartbroken, our main priority is the safety of our dear staff and team members.
“On behalf of myself and my family, I share my heartfelt thoughts and prayers for the people of Maui.”
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The restaurant also added: “We do not have enough information at this time regarding Fleetwood’s on Front Street or any of our neighbours to share.
“Mahalo [thank you] for your continued thoughts and prayers for our ohana [family], community and our first responders.”
Hawaii officials have urged tourists to avoid travelling to Maui as many hotels prepared to house evacuees and first responders on the island that faces a long recovery from the fires.
“In the weeks ahead, the collective resources and attention of the federal, state and county government, the West Maui community, and the travel industry must be focused on the recovery of residents who were forced to evacuate their homes and businesses,” the Hawaii Tourism Authority said in a statement late Saturday.
Hawaii Governor Josh Green on Sunday likened the burnt-out city of Lahaina to a “war zone”.
AP
“Right now, we are still in the throes of the acute phase of this recovery, meaning that we’re still recovering the tragic loss of life,” Mr Green told MSNBC on Sunday. “We’re at 93 (victims) now … it’s a war zone, but the help is incredible.”
He vowed to investigate the response to the blaze and the emergency notification systems after some residents questioned whether more could have been done to warn them.
Some witnesses said they had little warning, describing their terror as the blaze destroyed the town around them in what seemed to be a matter of minutes. Others dove into the Pacific Ocean to escape.
The death toll made the blaze Hawaii’s worst natural disaster, surpassing a tsunami that killed 61 people in 1960, a year after Hawaii became a US state.
