The wildfires could have “disastrous effects on the local reefs,” Mike Rees, founder of Ocean Science & Technology, told Newsweek.
Wildfires raging across Hawaii that are concentrated in the Maui region are expected to have an extreme impact on the state’s environment, including its famed corals, according to one expert.
At least 11,000 people have been displaced so far due to the fires, and the death toll—which currently stands at over 50 people as of August 11—is expected to rise. Officials have said the exact cause of the fires remains unknown, but have pointed to a National Weather Service (NWS) prediction that a mix of dry conditions and strong winds had created perfect conditions for the infernos to spread.
“Wildfires can interrupt terrain and lead to erosion and sediment runoff into coastal waters, having disastrous effects on the local reefs. Sedimentation smothers coral polyps and can block sunlight, which ultimately impacts coral health and growth,” Rees said.
Hawaii’s islands are home to 85 percent of the coral reefs found in the United States, as conservation scientists were already concerned about their well-being even before the wildfires, according to Coral Reef Resilience.
