A Catholic church remains intact as fires rip across Hawaii’s island of Maui, photos show.
The fire on Maui has killed at least 93 people as of Sunday afternoon, destroying businesses and homes. The historic Maria Lanakila Catholic Church, however, appears to be relatively untouched by the destruction, according to photos and social media posts.
“For us, it’s like a miracle,” Monsignor Terrence Watanabe told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. “When we saw the news and saw the church steeple rise above the town, it was a great sight to see.”
Parts of the island have turned to ash and photos show charred palm trees next to the historic church, which was built in 1846.
Maria Lanakila Catholic Church on Waine street is seen untouched in the aftermath of a wildfire in Lahaina, western Maui, Hawaii on August 11, 2023. A wildfire that left Lahaina in charred ruins has killed at least 93 people, authorities said, making it one of the deadliest disasters in the US state’s history. Brushfires on Maui, fueled by high winds from Hurricane Dora passing to the south of Hawaii, broke out August 8 and rapidly engulfed Lahaina. (Photo by Paula RAMON / AFP (Getty Images)
The roof of the church appears to have suffered some damage, with Watanabe saying they won’t know the extent of the damages until it is assessed by contractors.
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“We won’t know until we get in there and make an assessment,” he told the outlet.
This photo provided by the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources shows burnt areas in Lahaina on the Maui island, Hawaii, Friday, Aug. 11, 2023, following a wildfire. (Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources via AP) (Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources via AP)
The church was founded officially founded by Rev. Aubert Bouillon of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary in 1846 and dedicated in 1858, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported. The church was named after the Virgin Mary, specifically Our Lady of Victory.
This photo provided by the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources shows burnt areas in Lahaina on the Maui island, Hawaii, Friday, Aug. 11, 2023, following a wildfire. (Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources via AP)
The church serves between 700–800 families on the island, the Catholic News Agency reported.
Maria Lanakila Catholic Church on Waine street is seen untouched in the aftermath of a wildfire in Lahaina, western Maui, Hawaii on August 11, 2023. A wildfire that left Lahaina in charred ruins has killed at least 93 people, authorities said, making it one of the deadliest disasters in the US state’s history. Brushfires on Maui, fueled by high winds from Hurricane Dora passing to the south of Hawaii, broke out August 8 and rapidly engulfed Lahaina. (Photo by Paula RAMON / AFP (Getty Images)
A nearby Catholic school, Sacred Heart Schools, suffered significant damage in the winds leading up to the fire, according to the school’s Facebook page.
Hawaii’s fire has become the deadliest in U.S. history in the last century. At least 93 people have died, but officials believe that number will grow.
“We’ve got an area that we have to contain that is at least 5 square miles and it is full of our loved ones,”Maui Police Chief John Pelletier said, according to The Associated Press. The chief warned that the death toll will likely grow and that “none of us really know the size of it yet.”
This photo provided by County of Maui shows fire and smoke filling the sky from wildfires on the intersection at Hokiokio Place and Lahaina Bypass in Maui, Hawaii on Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2023. Wildfires in Hawaii fanned by strong winds burned multiple structures in areas including historic Lahaina town, forcing evacuations and closing schools in several communities Wednesday, and rescuers pulled a dozen people escaping smoke and flames from the ocean. (Zeke Kalua/County of Maui via AP)
Hawaii Gov. Josh Green toured the destruction on Saturday, telling reporters that at least 2,200 buildings were damaged or destroyed in West Maui, of which 86% were residential.
This photo provided by the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources shows burnt areas in the Kula community of the Upcountry region on the Maui island, Hawaii, Friday, Aug. 11, 2023, following a wildfire. (Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources via AP)
Cadaver dogs and crews picking through the debris have covered just 3% of the search area, Pelletier said.
Fox News Digital’s Stephen Sorace contributed to this report.
