Hawaii is facing flash floods that may have swept some homes away after category one Hurricane Lala skirted Big Island, as it continues to grapple with strong winds and torrential rain.
Tens of thousands of properties have been left without power and officials have warned people to prepare for “life-threatening” conditions, including mudslides, as the storm continues moving westward to the south of Hawaii.
Lala gained hurricane strength on Saturday, with wind speeds since peaking at 91mph (147km/h). It could dump up to 35in (89cm) of rain in places.
Hawaii Governor Josh Green said on Saturday that one person had died in a weather-related car accident on Big Island, where many roads have been impacted.
Hawaii County said that as of 01:00 local time (12:00 GMT) on Sunday, two areas on Big Island had been hit by flash flooding, adding “several occupied homes may have been swept off their foundations”.
Mayor Kimo Alameda said the county’s civil defense agency had initiated a search and rescue operation to find people whose homes may have been swept away in the floods.
“What makes this very challenging is that there’s rushing water, there’s debris, there’s boulders on the road, and it’s dark,” he explained.
Videos posted by Hawaii’s Department of Transportation show roads flooded with fast-moving water and blocked with fallen trees.
Green warned residents to brace for “an incredible amount of water”.
“Please be very safe… you do not want to be out on the roads,” he said in a video update on social media.
