Hawaii authorities have unveiled the names of 338 individuals who remain unaccounted for, over two weeks after a devastating wildfire, the deadliest in the U.S. in over a century, ravaged Lahaina, a picturesque resort town.
This comprehensive list, meticulously compiled by the FBI, comprises individuals whose full names are known, and whose status as missing has been corroborated by individuals with verified contact information.
The grim tally of lives lost due to the fire, which ignited on August 8th on Maui Island, currently stands at 115. However, officials have cautioned that this count is likely to increase. Search and rescue teams continue to comb through the charred remnants of Lahaina, though authorities have reported significant progress in these efforts as of last Friday.
Officials have appealed to relatives of the missing to provide names and, if possible, DNA samples. DNA samples are particularly valuable for accurate identification purposes. However, officials have encountered challenges in obtaining sufficient DNA samples, as fewer families have submitted them than initially anticipated.
Earlier in the week, authorities disclosed that they had a preliminary list of 1,000 to 1,100 individuals unaccounted for. However, they cautioned that this figure encompassed individuals with single-name identifications, duplicate listings, and those of uncertain gender.
Also Read: Maui Wildfires Update: 60 People Found Safe in House Amidst Devastation
As of Thursday afternoon, reassuringly, 1,732 individuals initially reported as missing have been located, offering a glimmer of hope amidst the devastating aftermath.
The lack of timely warnings prompted an immediate review of the island’s emergency alert systems, a necessary step to prevent such tragic surprises in the future.
