Advertised rent rate up 2.4%

Advertised rents across the country are up by 2.4% between April and June compared to the first quarter.

According to Daft.ie, the average market rent nationally is just under €1,800 equating to 10.7% higher than the same period one year ago.

The availability of rental properties remains the big driver with supply low and demand high.

The data shows that over the last few months there are signs that the number of homes available to rent has increased, with 1,200 on the market nationally, up 460 on the same date last year.

Author of the Daft.ie Rental Report, Trinity College Dublin economist Ronan Lyons, said the trend recorded in Dublin was noticeably different to the rest of the country.

In Dublin advertised rent was up by 0.3% in the second quarter when compared to the first.

The rest of the country, the increase was 4.3%.

"The figures in this latest rental market report indicate something of a split in market conditions," said Mr Lyons.

"In Dublin, the construction of new rental housing – together perhaps with the ef- fect of layoffs in some larger employers – has led to an easing of pressure in the open market."

"Outside the capital, however, the lack of new rental homes means that the imbalance between supply and demand is still there."

The report also includes information on rents paid by sitting tenants and shows that on average, rents paid by those in a tenancy increased by 3.8% over the last twelve months, The bigger percentage increases came outside Dublin at 4.5%, compared to 3.2% in the capital.

36 killed in Hawaii as residents jump into the ocean to flee wildfires

At least 36 people have died after wildfires, fanned by winds from a distant hurricane, devastating the resort city of Lahaina on Hawaii's Maui island.

The flames forced thousands to flee, including some who jumped into the Pacific Ocean.

Maui County officials said that 36 people were found dead and firefighters battled three major blazes. Western Maui was closed to all but emergency workers and evacuees.

More than 11,000 tourists were evacuated from Maui. Some were forced to jump into the Pacific Ocean to escape the smoke and fire conditions, prompting the US Coast Guard to rescue them, according to a Maui County press release.