Hawaii is severely affected by seasonal storms leading to heavy rainfall and the worst flooding in over 20 years. Authorities have ordered more than 5,000 residents to evacuate, but fortunately, there have been no reports of fatalities.
On Saturday, 21 Mar 2026 GMT+7, thousands of residents in the state of Hawaii were ordered to evacuate their homes after the U.S. island state faced its second "Kona Low" storm in the past week, causing the largest flooding in more than two decades.
Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi stated that over 230 people have been assisted so far, as heavy rain continued across the islands in the early hours of Saturday. The damage caused is estimated to exceed one billion U.S. dollars.
Authorities also issued warnings that dams on Oahu—the most populous island—are at risk of collapse. The mayor urged residents to "take care of their safety" and to "monitor this storm as seriously as possible."
Meanwhile, Hawaii Governor Josh Green announced on Friday that there have been no reported deaths from this storm, praising rescue personnel for their full efforts to ensure public safety.
However, rapidly rising water levels swept away several homes and vehicles, forcing authorities to order the evacuation of approximately 5,500 people in northern Honolulu, Hawaii's capital city. Multiple roads across the islands were also closed.
Honolulu's Emergency Management Agency issued multiple flash flood warnings, urging residents to move to higher ground and strictly avoid flooded areas. Flood watches were also announced for Maui, Molokai, and the Big Island.
Governor Green said the storm will have a "severe impact on our state," causing extensive damage to airports, schools, roads, hospitals, and residents' homes. "This is the biggest flood Hawaii has faced in 20 years," he said during a press conference.
The Kona Low is a seasonal storm that forms during winter in the western Hawaiian Islands, bringing heavy rain, flash floods, strong winds, and snowfall on high peaks. It typically occurs one to three times annually.
Hawaiian authorities noted that although the worst weather has passed, heavy rain and thunderstorms are expected to continue across Hawaii throughout the weekend and into early next week.
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Source:bbc