Hurricane Lala: Hawaii battles with flash floods and strong winds - BBC News

Officials say flash flooding may have swept away homes with people in them in worst-hit areas.

Image source, Getty ImagesByHafsa Khalil, Brandon Drenon and Ben Rich, lead weather presenterPublished15 August 2026Updated 2 hours agoHawaii is facing flash floods that may have swept some homes away after category one Hurricane Lala skirted Big Island, as it continues to grapple with strong winds and torrential rain.

Tens of thousands of properties have been left without power and officials have warned people to prepare for "life-threatening" conditions, including mudslides, as the storm continues moving westward to the south of Hawaii.

Lala gained hurricane strength on Saturday, with wind speeds since peaking at 91mph (147km/h). It could dump up to 35in (89cm) of rain in places.

Hawaii Governor Josh Green said on Saturday that one person had died in a weather-related car accident on Big Island, where many roads have been impacted.

Hawaii County said that as of 01:00 local time (12:00 GMT) on Sunday, two areas on Big Island had been hit by flash flooding, adding "several occupied homes may have been swept off their foundations".