Corkman in Hawaii appeals for Elon Musk to help with emergency wildfire response

Poor communications infrastructure hampering efforts

Destroyed homes and cars in Lahaina, Hawaii, where a wildfire demolished a historic town and killed dozens. Picture:Rick Bowmer/AP Photo

Irishman Peter O’Riordan has issued a direct appeal to billionaire Elon Musk for help with the emergency response to the Hawaii wildfires disaster, describing the aftermath as if someone dropped a bomb that obliterated everything to dust.

Mr O’Riordan, the former Xposé TV presenter from Cork, who has been running the Sea Maui boat tour company on the Hawaiian island of Maui for several years, lost his home and all his possessions in last week’s devastating wildfires.