Joe Biden declares major disaster on Hawaiian island Maui 

Aerial video from after sunrise revealed entire blocks of buildings reduced to ash and thick smoke in the air

Fire and smoke filling the sky from wildfires in Maui, Hawaii (Zeke Kalua/County of Maui via AP)

US President Joe Biden declared a major disaster on Maui on Thursday as at least 36 people have died as a result of wildfires in Lahaina, Hawaii. 

Mr Biden ordered all available federal assets to help with the response and said the Hawaii National Guard had mobilized helicopters to help with fire suppression as well as search-and-rescue efforts.