Watch: Flash flood sweeps vehicle away in Hawaii after Hurricane Lala

August 17, 2026

Hurricane Lala, a category one storm, passed near Hawaii's Big Island over the weekend, triggering devastating flash floods and mudslides that resulted in one fatality. The severe weather conditions displaced approximately 100 homes from their foundations and left over 200,000 households without electrical service. The tropical storm brought heavy rainfall and powerful winds that caused significant damage across the affected areas.

Who is affected

Residents of Hawaii's Big Island
Approximately 100 households whose homes were swept off their foundations
More than 200,000 households without power
One person who died
Local officials responding to the disaster

What action is being taken

The tropical storm is progressing west (this is an ongoing natural phenomenon being tracked by officials).

Why it matters

This natural disaster demonstrates the destructive power of even category one hurricanes, resulting in loss of life, widespread property damage with homes being swept away, and critical infrastructure failures affecting hundreds of thousands of residents who lost power. The event highlights the vulnerability of island communities to extreme weather events and the potential for flash flooding to cause catastrophic damage even from lower-category hurricanes.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC