A Brazilian couple residing in Hawaii, in the United States, reported that they had to throw themselves into the sea to escape the fire in the historic, fire-ravaged city of Lahaina. An unprecedented heat wave that hit the northern hemisphere last week led to a natural disaster that killed at least 96 people and left thousands homeless.
“We didn’t have electricity at home, so my husband decided to go out to buy a generator and at that moment he saw a giant smoke and people running. So he came back and said: Let’s leave the house. Just bring the dogs,” says Andressa Cicchino, in an interview with” Fantástico “.
The Brazilian lives with her husband, Mike Cicino, in Hawaii and shared the harrowing details of her escape from the flames. Because of roadblocks, the couple had to leave the veterinary clinic, where they housed five dogs, and walk the streets of the city.
Andressa says that in a moment of desperation, Mike called his mother to say goodbye. “I also called my brother and my daughter, who is only 4, and said I loved them. It was very difficult,” Mike said in an interview with Fantastico.
After a few minutes of walking through the streets of Lahaina, the couple was surrounded by flames and ended up throwing themselves into the sea to survive, along with many other islanders.
Mike says it was nerve-wracking to hear cars exploding and babies crying in their mother’s arms. “Inside the sea, we saw many young children in their mothers’ arms saying, ‘Mom, I don’t want to die,'” says Mike.
In this process of survival, Mike manages to save at least 40 people at sea. Among them, children and the elderly with limited mobility. After a few hours helping people, Mike was able to get back on the beach sand and call the emergency services. However, he and his wife had to wait for rescue in downtown Lahaina. It was 12 hours of pain.
“Many times I thought we were going to die. Andressa gave me strength. If I were on my own, I would panic and cry,” Mike says.
Hawaiian wildfires
Wildfires on the island of Maui and other locations in Hawaii, United States, have killed at least 99 people and left thousands missing. In a speech at the White House, US President Joe Biden issued a declaration of a state of disaster for the state of Hawaii.
State Governor Josh Green, in an official statement he posted on Instagram, expressed his regret for the loss of thousands of homes, and explained that the authorities’ efforts aim to provide safe shelter for the affected families. He reported that he was walking down Front Street in Lahaina and saw the damage up close, expressing his grief for the people of Maui. He stressed the importance of solidarity as everyone works together to rebuild the region.
The fires broke out in the early hours of Tuesday morning the 8th and spread rapidly, endangering more than 35,000 residents of Maui.
Source: EditoraTerra
