At least 1,100 folks stay lacking two weeks after lethal wildfires ravaged the Hawaiian island of Maui, authorities mentioned Tuesday.
The fires have been the deadliest to hit the United States in a century, claiming a minimum of 115 lives, in accordance with the newest provisional demise toll. The FBI is searching for members of the family’ assist in figuring out the stays of the lifeless.
The vacationer city of Lahaina, house to 12,000 folks, was all however wiped off the map, with 1000’s of lacking individuals showing on lists maintained by numerous organizations, together with the police, Red Cross and shelters.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is now working to collate and confirm the information, Special Agent Steven Merrill instructed reporters Tuesday.
“We’re cross-referencing all the lists so that we can determine who in fact truly is still unaccounted for,” Merrill mentioned.
As of Tuesday, the FBI had counted 1,100 lacking individuals, he added, with the quantity more likely to rise.
The FBI has arrange a devoted phone hotline and has inspired family members of the lacking to contact them.
“We really need the public’s help,” mentioned Merrill, notably by way of getting further data to confirm particulars for among the lacking.
Maui police chief John Pelletier mentioned authorities have been refining the information and have been hoping to publish a verified record of lacking individuals “in the next few days.”
FBI brokers have additionally been accumulating DNA samples from the households of the lacking who’re unable to journey to Maui, wherever on the earth they might be.
Identifying the unrecognizable our bodies discovered within the ashes of Lahaina is a laborious process.
So far, solely 27 of the 115 victims have been recognized.
Having the DNA of the households of the lacking “is a critical step in order to make an identification” of the victims, mentioned Julie French, vice chairman of ANDE, the corporate answerable for these operations.
“Nearly three-quarters of remains that have been tested for DNA thus far have generated searchable DNA results,” she mentioned.
But with out DNA from family members towards which to check this knowledge, the method is futile.
Only 104 DNA samples from members of the family of the lacking or lifeless have been collected up to now, and the authorities have been eager to dispel any mistrust of the method.
“The DNA profiles are not being retained by the FBI” or the police, mentioned Maui County District Attorney Andrew Martin.
“The only purpose for which it will be used is helping identify the unaccounted for.”
Source: www.dailysabah.com
