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Hawaii Officials Release List of 388 People Missing in Lahaina fire

California18
Hawaii Officials Release List of 388 People Missing in Lahaina fire

Maui County has released a list of 388 people who remain unaccounted for following the ferocious wildfire that decimated Lahaina.

The hope is that many on the list are fine and simply haven’t checked with emergency personnel. The fear is that many are not.

“We’re releasing this list of 388 names because we know it will help the investigation,” said Maui Police Chief John Pelletier, in a video message posted online Thursday night. “We’re also balancing that because we know when this list comes out, it can and will cause pain for some folks.

He continued: “This is not an easy thing to do, but we want to make sure that we are doing everything we can to make this investigation as complete and thorough as possible.”

The list (included below) includes no additional identifying information, such as ages or genders.

The county said the list, compiled by the FBI, consists of those for whom authorities have a first and last name and the contact number of the person who reported the person missing.

Earlier this week, county officials put the total number of people who remained unaccounted for at more than 1,000 and pledged to release the list in hopes of tracking down any who are safe.

By releasing a list of 388 names, it means the county and FBI are still trying to validate information for hundreds more who were reported missing. It’s unclear if those names will also be released.

If you recognize a name on the list and know the person to be safe, or if you have additional information about the person that may help locate them, you’re asked to call the FBI at (808) 566-4300 or email HN-COMMAND-POST@ic.fbi.gov as soon as possible.

If you believe an individual is still unaccounted for and their name is not included on the validated list of names, you’re asked to email unaccounted@mpd.net to provide MPD with more information.

As of Thursday night, the death toll from the fire stood at 115. But the governor and Maui first responders have warned that number is likely to rise.

More than two weeks after flames swept through Lahaina, fueled by winds gusting to 80 mph, the grueling search for remains in the ashes of Lahaina town, now the site of the deadliest U.S. wildfire in a century.

Recovery crews with cadaver dogs have finished searching one-story homes and businesses in Lahaina and have moved to multi-story structures, some of which are pancaked. At the same time, Maui firefighters and Ocean Safety personnel expanded their search in the water.

Authorities have also sought to prepare residents for the possibility that remains for some as-yet unknown number of people will never be found — and will eventually be presumed dead.

At a news conference earlier this week, Maui Mayor Richard Bissen said authorities don’t have an estimate of how many they believe perished in the fire, in large because of the high count of individuals reported missing. Officials have also said they don’t know how many children are among the victims.

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