Over two weeks after devastating wildfires ripped through Maui, Hawaii, officials estimate that between 1,000 and 1,100 people remain unaccounted for. The FBI's Honolulu field office is working to clear people from the list, but only 104 families have submitted DNA samples to aid in the identification process. Emergency leaders are calling on families to provide DNA samples to help identify the remains of those discovered in the ashes.
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Governor Josh Green has expressed his sympathies for those affected by the wildfires and urged the public to remain vigilant and take all necessary precautions. President Joe Biden is scheduled to visit the island soon to survey the damage and meet with those affected.
This article discusses the aftermath of a devastating wildfire that destroyed a historic town on Maui, with 106 confirmed dead and the death toll expected to rise. Survivors recount the days after the blaze, with many waiting days in the dark without power and water for help to arrive. Hawaii Governor Josh Green (D) has identified five of the victims so far.
President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden will travel to Maui on Monday to survey the devastation caused by the wildfires and discuss the recovery efforts with first responders, survivors, and local and federal officials. At least 106 people have been confirmed dead in the blaze, and the president has committed to providing the resources and assistance needed to help the people of Hawaii recover. The visit is the first of many trips the president and first lady will make to the island in the coming weeks and months.
Governor Green has announced that the death toll from the devastating wildfires on Maui is expected to rise, prompting President Biden to deploy nearly 500 federal emergency personnel to the island and promise all necessary resources. Search and rescue teams have already been deployed, and President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden plan to travel to Hawaii "as soon as we can."
The president has been in communication with Hawaii's Gov. Josh Green and has noted that the warning signs of the fires had been seen for hours before they began, and that some children and elderly people are still missing. He is committed to providing federal aid and ensuring that his visit will not disrupt the ongoing recovery efforts.
Maui County has reported 19 structures destroyed in the wildfires that broke out last Tuesday, with 93 people dead and others still missing. Richy Palalay, a lifelong resident of Lahaina, is concerned that the influx of second-home buyers and wealthy transplants is displacing local-born residents who can no longer afford to live in their homeland. The county is offering assistance to those who have lost their homes, as well as working with the state and Red Cross to provide food, water, and other supplies to those affected.
Maui County officials have issued an unsafe water advisory for residents of Lahaina and Upper Kula due to potential contamination from the recent wildfire, now the deadliest U.S. wildfire of the past century with 93 confirmed deaths. Governor Green has toured the devastation and the Department of Water Supply is working to restore the water supply and ensure safety.