The Maui wildfires, some of which are still burning, have already claimed more lives in the United States than any other disaster in more than a century. As the death toll reached 106, Hawaii’s governor warned that identifying the dead in the Maui wildfires will be an “extremely difficult task” and families anxiously awaiting word about their missing family members were urged to gather DNA samples and submit the same to run tests.
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Hawaii Governor, Josh Green, gave his statement to reporters of CNN on Tuesday that a genetics team would be sent in to assist in identifying fatalities as hundreds of investigators with cadaver dogs kept continuing to sift through the ashes of the houses and businesses that had been destroyed by the biggest US wildfire in over 100 years.
As Maui County revealed the first names of those killed in the Maui wildfire that nearly destroyed the ancient town of Lahaina last week and killed a total of 106 people (as of now), federal officials brought a mobile mortuary to Hawaii to assist in the identification of the deceased.
On-Going Search Of the Victims
Only two victims have received identities so far, but the county claims to have found three more; it will announce their identities after the relatives have been notified.
According to Jonathan Greene, deputy assistant secretary for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, “it’s going to be a very, very difficult mission.” And because there are so many casualties, patience will be crucial.More than 22 tonnes of supplies and equipment for victim identification and processing remains, including mortuary examination tables and X-ray machines, were delivered by a mobile mortuary unit on the morning of Tuesday.
Up until Tuesday, cadaver dog teams had combed around 32% of the region.
John Pelletier, the chief of police on Maui, has again urged victims’ families to provide DNA samples. According to the county statement, 41 samples have already been turned in, and 13 DNA profiles from skeletal remains have been retrieved.
The number of individuals still missing in connection with the flames that erupted on August 8 and particularly decimated the historic areas of Lahaina in western Maui remains unknown, according to authorities. Authorities worry that the already horrific number of casualties may increase as the search area is widened.
According to Green, a lot of the human remains discovered so far were on a road beside the water. “We’re uncertain about what we’ll see once we enter the residences. The governor of Maui said, “We’re hoping and praying that it’s not enormous, large numbers.Â
The After Effects of Maui Wildfire
As of Tuesday morning, according to Maui County officials, the Kula fire in upcountry Maui was 60% contained while the Lahaina fire in western Maui was 85% contained. The Lahaina bypass will resume on Wednesday, with the evening hours restricted to residents only, the governor announced on Tuesday, following many days of closures that irritated locals.Â
Some residents were still dealing with sporadic power, unstable mobile coverage and confusion over where to find aid a week after the fires broke out.
To make calls, some folks would occasionally walk to a seawall, which had the best phone reception.
The President Joe Biden declared on Tuesday that Hawaii will have “each and every resource they require” for ongoing recovery and reconstruction operations, despite complaints from some Maui locals about the slow pace of relief.
