MAUI, HAWAII: The Maui wildfires have triggered the emergence of peculiar conspiracy theories on the Internet.
While some suggest the involvement of individuals of influence like President Joe Biden and Oprah Winfrey, others talk about space-lasers unleashing havoc upon the Hawaiian island or claim to know why some trees didn't burn.
Most of the conspiracy theories and hoxes that have emerged till now sound outlandish because most aren't backed by credibility and have already been debunked in several instances. So, keep reading to know what the Internet thinks about devastating Maui wildfires.
Conspiracy theory #1: The A-listers are at play to grab land from Maui residents
The realm of conspiracy theories has spun a web of assertions centering on orchestrated devastation, implicating a wide spectrum of entities.
These range from BlackRock Investment Management, Jeff Bezos, and Oprah to broader real estate companies, all purportedly involved in a massive arson scheme designed to displace residents and secure valuable real estate holdings.
However, official authorities are yet to definitively determine the origins of the fires. Legal experts delving into the investigation have informed Bloomberg that the prevailing indications suggest damage to electrical infrastructure caused by the powerful hurricane winds that swept across the island.
Oprah Winfrey’s unharmed luxury mansion
Matt Wallace, a prominent face on X (formerly Twitter) with a following of 1.2 million on the platform, forth a claim on Sunday, August 13, dragging Oprah's name into it.
Wallace alleged that as "locals in Maui were resisting selling their land to the privileged elite," those with means started the fire to claim the land as the residents will be forced to give up their properties.
He further stated, "Oprah Winfrey possesses a luxurious mansion in Maui, and it remains unscathed," and questioned, "How is it that the fire curiously spared the most opulent residences? It's time to awaken!" pointing to Oprah's involvement in causing the wildfires.
In a separate post, Wallace claimed that Oprah, 69, had been "buying up land in Maui like crazy."
It's vital to approach such claims with discernment since nothing of such nature has been proved. Moreover, Oprah has been actively engaged in providing aid to the victims of wildfires, helping them with food, water, and other amenities.
Conspiracy theory #2: Everything is burnt but the trees
Another conspiracy theory that took X (formerly Twitter) by storm was the reason behind the trees remaining unharmed. One user posted, "Everything is burnt but the trees, but don't point that out or you're labeled a conspiracy theorist," along with a video of the said trees.
Thankfully, other users soon debunked it as a conspiracy theory and pointed out that certain trees possess the ability to withstand wildfires due to a protective layer of thermal insulation offered by their bark, deceased leaves, or damp tissues.
Some even directed the skeptics to an informative Britannica article that expounded upon the phenomenon.
Conspiracy theory #3: Claims of energy weapon assault
The viral images portraying what seemed to be beams of light descending from above and erupting into fiery explosions on Maui were met with bold claims. In an Instagram video, a man asserted, "This was a direct energy weapon assault on the people," while presenting one of those photos.
He further stated, "And I say that because my friend in Hawaii, which I'm going to show this picture here, showed a laser beam coming out of the sky directly targeting the city."
However, upon closer investigation, it became evident that the photo in question had no association with futuristic weaponry, Hawaii, or even the year 2023. Instead, it depicted a controlled burn from 2018 at an Ohio refinery, as per the NY Post.
Conspiracy theory #4: Government’s plan of setting up an AI-powered smart city by displacing Maui residents
A collection of conspiracy theories have been harnessed to propagate a narrative insinuating that the wildfires were deliberately ignited as a means to displace indigenous inhabitants from Maui, ostensibly paving the way for a governmental initiative to morph the region into an AI-powered "smart city".
It's crucial to note that the leap to attributing the wildfires as a deliberate maneuver to facilitate these initiatives is largely unsupported and rests on the periphery of factual substantiation.
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Ben Collins, a reporter affiliated with NBC News, stated, "The Maui fires are a good example of how conspiracy culture cannot and should not be reasoned with. There will be no come-to-Jesus moment on climate change or severe weather. There will just be more people claiming Oprah or Biden used a direct energy weapon. That's our future."
