Hurricane Lala sparks flash floods in Hawaii as strong winds and rain persist

BREAKING: Hurricane Lala triggers flash flooding in Hawaii, with officials warning several occupied homes may have been swept off their foundations as search and rescue operations begin on Big Island.

Occupied homes may have been swept off their foundations in Hawaii. That's the warning from Hawaii County tonight, as Hurricane Lala lashes Big Island with flash floods, ninety-one mile an hour winds, and forecasts of up to thirty-five inches of rain.

A local reporter was live on the coast when the storm hit, and this is what conditions looked like. Search and rescue teams are out right now in two flooded areas, working in the dark through rushing water, debris and boulders on the roads. That's the mayor's own description.

Governor Josh Green has confirmed one death, in a weather-related car accident. Nearly one hundred and fifteen thousand customers have lost power, three hospitals are running on backup generators, and one hundred and ninety flights are postponed, with eighty percent of departures cancelled at Hilo.

The storm is still moving west, and the rain has not stopped. Rescuers won't know what those floods took until daylight.

This is Sara White, reporting for HIT.

Source Read the original reporting at bbc.co.uk