Clean-up efforts have begun in Hawaii after Hurricane Lala, downgraded to a tropical storm, brought heavy rain and strong winds to the US Pacific state. On the Big Island, approximately 100 homes were swept off their foundations, and several bridges sustained damage.
Hawaii's Governor, Josh Green, estimates the storm has caused hundreds of millions of dollars in damage across the state. Officials are currently investigating whether there have been any storm-related deaths.
Randy Collins, Hawaii’s emergency management director, warned of ongoing dangers during clean-up, citing risks from heavy equipment, chainsaws, generators, and downed power lines. The National Hurricane Center has cautioned that Lala, downgraded from a hurricane on Sunday, could become a hurricane again by Wednesday.
On Oahu, the Honolulu fire department responded to over 600 weather-related incidents by Sunday noon, including 147 reports of downed trees, blown-off roofs, and downed power lines. A major highway in the Big Island’s south-east collapsed overnight, blocking road access to Pahala, which has the region's only hospital.