Thousands of residents on the Hawaiian island of Oahu have been forced to evacuate as relentless winter storms unleash torrential rains on already saturated ground, causing the worst flooding the US state has seen in over two decades. Meteorologists warn that more heavy precipitation is expected in the coming days, exacerbating the crisis.
The island's famed North Shore, a global surfing mecca, has borne the brunt of the devastation. On Thursday and Friday, raging rivers of muddy water swept across the island, carrying away cars and homes, washing out roads, and triggering the evacuation of at least 5,500 people north of the capital, Honolulu. At a Friday press conference, Hawaii Governor Josh Green stated, "This is going to have very serious consequences for us as a state," noting this week's flooding is the most severe since 2004. He estimated damage to private and public property could exceed $1 billion (€860 million).
Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi added, "There's no question that the damage done thus far has been catastrophic." The US National Weather Service (NWS) recorded 16 inches (40 cm) of rainfall overnight Thursday at Kaala, Oahu's highest peak, with other parts of the island receiving 8 to 12 inches. The NWS issued flood watches statewide and flash flood warnings for the North Shore, with another 6 to 8 inches of rain forecast in the next few days.
Officials report no fatalities so far, but approximately 10 people have been hospitalized with hypothermia. Rescue teams have saved over 230 residents, including 70 children and adults airlifted from a Catholic youth camp on Friday by the US National Guard and Honolulu Fire Department. However, rescue efforts are increasingly hampered by individuals operating drones nearby to capture images of the devastation.
A critical additional threat looms: the Wahiawa Dam on Oahu is "at risk of imminent failure," deemed a "high-hazard potential" structure whose breach "will result in probable loss of life." The earthen dam, built by the Dole Food Company in 1906 and rebuilt after a 1921 collapse, is nearing absolute capacity. As of Friday, water levels behind the fragile structure reached about 25.6 meters—just 1.8 meters from overflowing—after rising over 1.5 meters overnight.
State authorities have pressured Dole to repair the dam since 2009, fining the company $20,000 five years ago for failing to address safety concerns. Dole has offered to donate the dam, reservoir, and ditch system to the state in exchange for Hawaii agreeing to repair its spillway to meet safety standards. The state passed legislation authorizing the dam's acquisition in 2023, with a state board set to vote on the issue next week. In a statement Friday, Dole claimed, "The dam continues to operate as designed with no indications of damage."
Oahu's Emergency Management Agency addressed the dam threat on Friday, ordering 4,000 downstream residents to "LEAVE the area NOW!" On Saturday, residents were again urged to evacuate various parts of the island and seek shelter at emergency centers set up by officials and local groups, as authorities announced "flash flooding is happening or will happen soon." Residents have been advised to carpool where possible to avoid traffic blockages on increasingly impassable roads.
Source: www.dw.com