The death toll in the Hawaiian island of Maui has gone up to 36, according to the latest reports. The worst hit by the blaze was the resort town of Lahaina, where multiple people died and thousands have been evacuated.
Lahaina, which is the former capital of the historic Hawai kingdom, is the major tourist attraction in the US island, drawing more than two million travellers every year.
At least 11,400 tourists have been evacuated from West Maui to nearby islands, the Sky News reported. Winds of up to 85mph fuelled the blaze, cutting of the region’s transport network and preventing firefighters from reaching the worst hit areas.