A family escaped the raging Maui wildfires in Hawaii thanks to Apple iPhone's ingenious Emergency SOS via Satellite feature.
The family of five survived a harrowing incident of being trapped in a wildfire by contacting the emergency services using their mobile phone.
Family Survives Maui Wildfire Using Apple iPhone's Emergency SOS
An aerial image taken on August 10, 2023 shows destroyed homes and buildings burned to the ground in Lahaina in the aftermath of wildfires in western Maui, Hawaii. At least 36 people have died after a fast-moving wildfire turned Lahaina to ashes, officials said August 9, 2023 as visitors asked to leave the island of Maui found themselves stranded at the airport.
According to the Daily Mail UK, a family of five broke free from the Maui wildfire, which surrounded their vehicle, using an iPhone 14's emergency feature. The family was driving through the Hawaiian island when flames suddenly surrounded them. They used the Emergency SOS feature to contact emergency services with no cell service available.
The phone towers in the area have ceased operating due to the historic wildfire. Residents in the area even ended up losing access to 911. Hawaii Lieutenant Governor Sylvia Like confirmed that phone services on the island are down. He also stressed that the hospitals in Maui are now flooded with patients amid the raging wildfire.
But despite the lack of any cell signal, a family escaped the harrowing incident. The family used Apple's satellite system to contact local emergency services, enabling them to call for rescue. The Emergency SOS function, which uses satellites, is connected to rescuers despite the lack of reception due to the wildfire's fiery destruction.
As Gizmodo reports, an X, formerly Twitter user, Michael J Miraflor, posted screenshots of how the iPhone emergency service helped a family survive a wildfire. He narrates, "My brother's girlfriend's cousin and his family were caught in their vehicle in Maui while the wildfires suddenly erupted around them."
The screenshots show the conversation with the Emergency services. The family successfully sent their location to the rescuers using the iPhone feature. Based on the conversation, it took them less than an hour before the first responders rescued them.
Read Also: Maui Wildfires: Blazes Kill at Least 6, Displaces Thousands, Overwhelms Hospitals
Apple iPhone Emergency SOS via Satellite Feature
Irish rock band U2 singer Bono's hands hold is "Red" iPhone during a session pannel at the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting, on January 23, 2019 in Davos, eastern Switzerland.
The Emergency SOS feature is not just another addition to a mobile phone. It is a testament to how innovation can turn an ordinary device into a lifeline during critical moments. According to Mac Rumors, Apple debuted its Emergency SOS via Satellite function when the iPhone 14 lineup hit the shelves last year, or in 2022, to be precise.
Since then, the SOS capability has extended a helping hand to multiple people stuck in remote areas. It has saved several lives where WiFi or phone reception is nowhere to be found.
The Cupertino-based tech giant is currently offering the satellite feature for free to all iPhone 14 models. In other words, older iPhone releases skips on the ingenious emergency function since it is only reserved for the latest lineup.
Related Article: Hawaii Declares State of Emergency Due to Ongoing Wildfires Fueled by Hurricane Dora
