Hawaii came under the impact of Hurricane Lala, which passed close to the southern part of the Big Island. The storm brought torrential rain, strong winds and dangerous waves. Authorities warned residents about possible flooding and hazardous conditions along the coast.
“This is a serious storm,” Governor Josh Green said.
He declared a state of emergency to ensure that Hawaii and the affected county have sufficient resources to clear debris, reinforce infrastructure and take other necessary preparedness measures.
Lala strengthened into a Category 1 hurricane, with winds reaching 120 km/h. The storm approached South Point to within approximately 50 kilometers, but did not make landfall. Meteorologists forecast that the hurricane would continue moving northwest.
Hurricane conditions persisted on the Big Island, particularly in areas with higher terrain. Tropical storm warnings were issued for seven other major Hawaiian islands. Nearly 20,000 consumers were temporarily left without power.
High waves and strong rip currents posed an additional threat. The National Weather Service warned of potentially life-threatening conditions at sea.
Lala is the second major storm to approach the Hawaiian archipelago in recent weeks. Last month, Hurricane Fausto threatened Hawaii, but weakened and passed north of the islands.
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